"Look how much money I have left for this month." Perry slammed a few bills down on the table.
Darren the duck counted them. "Twenty-eight dollars? Wow. I guess it's a good thing you don't have to buy yourself food and shelter. What did you blow all of your cash on?"
"Randy."
"Randy the reindeer? Did you lose a bet with him or something?"
"You think a security agent would make a bet? No way. I had to pay him to oppose Ernest the eagle."
"Oh that's right. Agent E's in some kind of debate, isn't he?"
"Yep. He's debating against me being able to see my pups ever again. Randy's agreed to fight for me. The whole agency is invited to watch. Whoever wins the cute little debate decides the fate of my children."
"That's kind of harsh."
Perry shrugged. "If Randy loses, do you think he'll give me my money back?"
"Why did you choose Randy out of all the security agents?" Darren asked.
"He gave me a nod once when I walked past him. He's the friendliest one I've met so far."
"Wow. Do you need any help?"
"With what?"
"Just with anything."
Perry shook his head. "Nope. I can last a month without cash."
Phineas looked bored out of his mind. He was sitting under his favorite tree next to Ferb, and Perry sat in his lap.
"We could build a submarine out of it."
"Don't have any glass." Ferb said.
Perry looked at where Phineas had been gesturing. A few metal parts were sitting in the backyard.
"We could build a submarine with no glass to see out of… oh, that's lame!" Phineas slammed his head against the tree trunk as he leaned back. "OW!"
Ferb ignored him. He was reading a book.
"You know what? I'm sick of this. Let's just pile the iron beams on top of each other and make modern art."
Ferb yawned.
Phineas sighed. "I know. Boring."
"Hey Phineas!" Isabella entered the yard. "Whatcha doin'?"
"Not much." Phineas admitted. "We don't have a lot to work with today."
"Why not?"
Phineas didn't answer her question. Instead, he held Perry up. "He's better now."
"Oh, good! Does he have stitches?"
"Yep. They're on his belly."
"Can I see?"
"Sure." Phineas tried to roll Perry over. Perry growled at him. "Oh, come on, boy. Show Isabella. Look, see? Right there in that little shaved area on his tummy."
Isabella looked. "Wow. That's impressive."
"The stitches will fall out by themselves." Phineas said.
"Please put me down now." Perry grumbled.
Phineas set Perry down on the ground. Perry sat down next to Ferb and repeatedly slammed his tail against the tree trunk in anger.
Ferb pulled a platypus treat out of his pocket and secretly fed it to Perry to calm him down.
"…I don't know." Phineas was saying. "Usually it never runs out. But when the guy came and brought that steel beam over there, it was just gone."
"Wow. Well, I guess long-lasting things never last forever."
"Guess not." Phineas said. "Ferb and I are going to devise a way to find more. Then we can build the flying swimming pool."
"Cool. Let me know when that is." Isabella waved to them and left.
"What are you out of?" Perry asked.
"Money for materials." Phineas said. "Usually our piggybanks are always filled to the brim every single day. But today we ran out."
"Oh. Gosh. I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault."
"No, it is. I've been filling up your banks ever since I started earning money. I knew you used it for projects, so I refilled them every night. But I don't have any extra money this month." He handed Phineas some bills. "Here. Twenty-eight bucks."
"That won't be enough, but thank you." Phineas tried to give it back.
"Keep it. It may come in handy. How much are you short?"
"Well, with the twenty-eight dollars, we need one hundred and eleven."
"Huh. Why don't you sell lemonade or something?"
"We'd have to buy lemons and cups and sugar… maybe we can win some money. Ferb, look up competitions currently running in Danville."
Ferb stood up and went inside to go check the computer.
"I'm sorry I made you show Isabella your stitches." Phineas said softly.
"It's okay. Just ask me next time."
"Sorry I'm late. I overslept." Perry put a few papers down in front of Randy. "So what are we going over again? Besides these random drawings you told me to bring?"
"Not very professional-looking today, are we?" Randy said coldly.
"Sorry. I didn't have time to shave. So, what are we doing?"
Randy sighed. "I will ask you a few questions so I will know what arguments I can use in the coming debate."
"Okay. Perfect. And the drawings?"
"Are to see how your offspring value you."
"Okay. Go ahead. Ask me."
Randy stared at him.
"Um… ask me… sir?"
"How many children do you have?"
"Four. But two of them are twins. So… do they count as one?"
"No. What are their names?"
"Palmer, Pamela, Paisley, and Peppily. But their nicknames are Pal, Pam, Pay and Pe-"
"Did you plan on having these children beforehand?"
"Uh… well…" Perry blushed.
"Yes or no. One-word answer."
"Well, not exactly."
"One word."
"No."
"All right, then." Randy said. "On an average, how many times a week do you see your children?"
"Once every other week. Is that a valid answer?"
"Do your children appear to harbor any anger towards you?"
"No. They're always happy to see me."
Randy wrote something down. Then he picked up the pictures. He held one up for Perry to see. "What do you think this means?"
It was a crayon drawing of a baby platypus standing next to an older platypus. "I LOV DADI" was printed across the bottom in pink marker.
"I think it means Pam loves me. But it's hard to tell, isn't it?"
"And this one?" Randy held up another one. This one was pretty much the same, except it said "I LOVE DADDY AND THINGS THAT BREAK AND THINGS THAT CRASH AND MAKING THINGS BREAK AND MOMMY AND COWS AND HORSES" on the bottom.
"I think that means Palmer drew that one." Perry said.
"I think I have enough now to put together a good argument." Randy collected the drawings and his papers and put them into a backpack. He stood up and saluted Perry.
Perry returned the gesture.
Randy started to leave, but he turned back at the last moment. "I think we have a chance here. And I hope we win. It's cruelty to keep any good person from their family." He smiled.
Perry smiled back.
Randy quickly switched his expression back to an intimidating glare. Security agents couldn't risk a smile.
"Don't get into trouble." He said.
Perry was lying on the couch.
"Move." Candace said.
"Make me." Perry chattered.
Even though Candace was unable to understand Perry, she picked him up and tossed him on the floor anyway. Perry's feet hurt when they hit the ground.
"Stay off. I don't want the couch to get fur all over it." Candace brushed a few teal hairs off of the cushions. They floated lazily into the air. "Jeremy's coming over to watch a movie, and everything has to be perfect."
Perry jumped up and bit her skirt.
"EEK! PHINEAS AND FERB! YOUR UGLY SMELLY PLATYPUS IS TRYING TO EAT ME ALIVE!"
Phineas ran into the living room and pulled Perry off of Candace. "He's just playing with you, Candace. He likes you."
"He doesn't when she kicks him off the sofa." Perry said.
"Candace, you wouldn't let him be on the sofa?" Phineas asked.
"What? How did you- never mind. He was getting hair all over it!"
"Candace, he has every right to the sofa. He's a member of the family."
Candace mumbled something inaudible and stormed upstairs.
Phineas stroked Perry. "I wonder what's gotten into her. She's not usually this grumpy."
"Oh, yes she is."
