P&F Industries
Inspired in part by the opening theme.
It started very early that one summer. The biggest and most involved project the boys ever worked on had no blueprint or schema. It was not born from a single spark of inspiration or an innocent desire to explore. Really, it was necessity that mothered this particular invention.
"Hey Mom!" Phineas exclaimed as he bounced into the kitchen. Summer was just beginning, and he and Ferb had already come up with a stack of things they wanted to do before September rolled around again and they were shoved into boxy classrooms once more. School was fun and all, because Phineas loved learning and spending time with all his classmates, but summer was just SOOO much better. No way he and his best bro were going to waste even a single second of it.
Vibrating with excitement and the need to do and make, Phineas continued speaking, barley registering his mother's fond acknowledgment. "Ferb and I want to make an anti-gravity chamber in the back yard. Do you know were Ferb left his welding torch? He's usually so good about putting it away properly, but we think Dad borrowed while he was on his modern sculpture kick last month. And do you know if we have any titanium alloy left over from when we build our model of the solar system for science class? That sure was a fun project. And do you know where we can get some high frequency silicone quartz? I asked the lady at the hardware store, but she just looked confused."
"The torch is in the garage, and if you're going to be playing with it, I want it outside. And don't let me catch you without your gloves and goggles." Linda warned. She still wasn't sure about her young sons messing around with flammable gasses and glowing hot metal. Ferb had looked so hopeful when he had asked for one for his birthday last year, and both the boys promised to be careful. Lawrence eventually convinced her that they were capable of being responsible about the potentially dangerous hobby. So in the name of fostering creativity and independent thinking, she allowed it. She just hopped she never had cause to regret caving in.
Phineas agreed enthusiastically, bouncing on the balls of his feet and watching her expectantly. Linda hummed as if in thought. "There might be some scrap materials in the garage, but certainly not enough for what you're planning. And you boys have used up your allowance already if I'm not mistaken." Linda's eyes twinkled as her cute son wilted a little. Messing with her children was a mother's greatest joy. Some of the things Phineas came up with were just too grand to be possible, and there was a fine line between providing support and enabling delusions. Now was as good a time as ever to introduce the concept of money management.
"If you two want to work on your projects, you can. As long as you keep safe, and any mess gets tidied by the end of the day. You can use stuff around the house, as long as you ask first, but anything extra will have to come from your own pocket, Understand?"
Phineas looked slightly disappointed, while Ferb (when had he arrived?) was thoughtful. "How does one make money without a job?" he asked quietly.
Linda was glad he asked, as it meant Ferb was seriously contemplating the issue, just as she had intended. "Usually, you don't. Most people find employment from companies and organizations and the like when they get old enough. Some jobs are part time, like how Jeremy works at Slushie Dog over the summer and on weekends, but not on school days. Stacy's mom has a fulltime career as a lawyer, which provides a lot more money than part time work, but takes a lot of schooling and time to be successful.
"Another type of job is the small business you dad and I have. We don't have a boss, so we can make our own rules, but we don't have a guaranteed income either." Linda wondered if this was too much information for the boys, but the two sets of eyes looking up at her sparkled with understanding. Oh, she was so proud of her little men! "Basically the more we put into the business the more it pays off, but there are many other factors that we have to be aware of, like renting bills, merchandising, and supply and demand.
"Since you are too young to get a part time job, and any career for you is way in the future, maybe you could start a business. Some kids sell lemonade, cookies or handicrafts. Others mow lawns and shovel driveways. You could even make some money picking up peoples groceries and running errands for them. There are a lot of ways to make extra money if you work had and use your imagination."
Ferb nodded his understanding, and the calculating glint in Phineas' eye would have been frightening if he had a single hint of ruthlessness about him. 'Imagination' was the magic word to use around her bright boy. Anything could be made fun if imagination was applied.
"Well, I have laundry to do, so I'll leave you boys to your scheming. Just remember not to do anything dangerous or illegal, and don't be too disappointed if your first try doesn't work out."
As she walked away Linda heard the words that never failed to make her smile. "Ferb, I know what we're going to do today!" Her sons were truly amazing.
And so, without really knowing it, Linda Flyn-Fletcher planted the seed that would grow into one of the most successful and influential companies of the developed world.
A/N: So? What do you think? As mentioned above, the line about mission and suppliers got me thinking. What suppliers? How do Phineas and Ferb manage money? How can they afford to build all this stuff, and then give it away, or have it just disappear? The story gets better from here, I think.