  I argue that a certain perturbative proximity exists between some
supersymmetric and non-supersymmetric theories (namely, pure Yang-Mills and
adjoint QCD with two flavors, adjQCD$_{N_f=2}$). I start with ${\mathcal N}=2$
super-Yang-Mills theory built of two ${\mathcal N}=1$ superfields: vector and
chiral. In ${\mathcal N}=1$ language the latter presents matter in the adjoint
representation of SU$(N). $ Then I convert the matter superfield into a "{\em
phantom}" one (in analogy with ghosts), breaking ${\mathcal N}=2$ down to
${\mathcal N}=1$. The global SU(2) acting between two gluinos in the original
theory becomes graded. Exact results in thus deformed theory allows one to
obtain insights in certain aspects of non-supersymmetric gluodynamics. In
particular, it becomes clear how the splitting of the $\beta$ function
coefficients in pure gluodynamics, $\beta_1 =(4 -\frac 13 )N$ and $\beta_2=
(6-\frac 13)N^2$, occurs. Here the first terms in the braces (4 and 6, always
integers) are geometry-related while the second terms ($-\frac 13$ in both
cases) are {\it bona fide} quantum effects. In the same sense adjQCD$_{N_f=2}$
is close to ${\mathcal N}=2$ SYM.
  Thus, I establish a certain proximity between pure gluodynamics and
adjQCD$_{N_f=2}$ with supersymmetric theories. (Of course, in both cases we
loose all features related to flat directions and Higgs/Coulomb branches in
${\mathcal N}=2$.) As a warmup exercise I use this idea in 2D CP(1) sigma model
with ${\mathcal N}=(2,2)$ supersymmetry, through the minimal heterotic
${\mathcal N}=(0,2) \to$ bosonic CP(1).
