Candace's Adventures in Babysitting
Chapter 1
Candace, her brothers, Suzy, and Suzy's friends were running from Duncan, and Howie, who were in disguise. Suzy had a Ducky Momo backpack on her back. They then came to a dead-end, and looked at the two crooks. Howie laughed evilly.
"It's the end of the line, kids." He said. "Give us what we want, and we won't hurt you."
Oooh, this babysitting job was going so well. Candace thought. Where did it go wrong?
One day and a half ago
"Mom, can I buy a ticket to see Ducky Momo Live?" Candace asked her mother who was carrying down the laundry. "It's only this weekend."
"I guess." Linda answered. "But remember, you promised to babysit Phineas and Ferb for us while your father and I are at a gala."
"Thanks, Mom!" Candace thanked her. The excited teen ran off.
"I got my ticket." Candace announced to her family at dinner. "I'm going on Saturday at 2PM." Linda looked at her daughter.
"2PM?" Candace nodded. "Oh no, you can't go. Give your ticket to someone else."
"What? Why can't I go? The gala isn't until Sunday."
"Saturday!"
"Saturday? I thought you said Sunday." Linda shook her head.
"It was supposed to be last Sunday, but got postponed to this Saturday instead." Candace face palmed herself.
"Oh, this is super! But, I don't want to give my ticket away even though it might be the right thing to do."
"Well, you're going to have to. I don't think the boys would be interested."
"Actually Mom, we would." Phineas answered. Linda was shocked, so was Lawrence.
"You would?" Phineas nodded. Linda looked at her stepson.
"You'd want to go?" She asked him.
"No." Ferb replied. "But if Candace wants to, and if she can get us tickets, we'll make the sacrifice."
"Plus we have nothing else to do." Phineas added. "So, we'll go. We may stick out like sore thumbs going to a show for five-year olds, but anything to make our sister happy." Candace smiled at her little brother.
"Okay then." Linda looked at her daughter. "Candace, can you see if there's two more tickets left? If you can, then you may go. But, if not, you can't."
"Thanks, Mom!" Candace was about to go when her Mom spoke.
"After dinner."
"But Mom, the tickets might be sold out by then."
"Then you have to hope that they don't." Candace sighed as she ate her food.
"Do you guys remember the crooks that stole the diamond at the museum?" Lawrence asked, changing the subject.
"The one that Perry saved?" Phineas questioned his father. "Yeah, we remember. And I think I can say the same for Perry." He looked at his pet who was chowing down on his food. He looked back at his Dad. "What about it?"
"Well, it turns out that they escaped prison."
"Hopefully the police can get them."
"I hope so too."
Perry's eyes widened. Duncan and Howie escaped? Will he have to cross paths with them again? He hoped not, but if he does, he'll be ready.
"Okay boys, I got the tickets." Candace told her brothers later that evening. Thanks again for wanting to go, but I feel guilty making you two go to something you truly don't want to go to. Anything that you boys want to go or do that I won't be caught dead at, tell me." Phineas shook his head.
"No need, Candace." She was confused.
"Really?" Her brother nodded. "You boys really are the best little brothers ever."
"I don't know about the 'best'. That's debatable. But yes, yes we are, or we try to be."
"I have to take my brother to Ducky Momo tomorrow." Candace overheard someone tell her friend the next day at lunch.
"But isn't he nine years old?" Her friend wanted to know.
"Yeah, I know. My brother is lame like that. Hopefully, it's a phase and he'll outgrow it."
"Yeah, but he should never have gotten into it in the first place. " They then all laughed. This made Candace mad.
"Candace," Stacy said to her. "Steady, girl. Keep it to yourself. Don't flip out on me."
"You know," The girl said. "I don't get what older people see in these cartoons. Don't they know they're for children?"
"Guess not. If they want to be immature babies all of their lives, then fine. But they won't marry or get professional jobs. Honesty, why can't these people grow up?" They all broke out laughing again. Candace had enough! She put her food on an empty nearby table. Stacy noticed this.
"Candace," She began. "Please, don't do this. You don't have to prove anything. Let's just eat our lunch."
"Sorry, Stac." Candace told her. "But I can't just let them do this. I got to take a stand." She got on the table, and stood up next to her food.
"Candace, no; you'll make a fool out of yourself!"
"LISTEN UP, PEOPLE!" She shouted. Everyone stopped talking and looked at her. Stacy face palmed, not believing that this was her friend. "People shouldn't judge people because of the shows they watch. So what if they still like to do childish things? Since when are cartoons mostly just for kids? Is it just because of the bright colors? Huh, is that it? They're sill the same person. We have one life to live. It's not like we have time machines, and we have to go back to our childhoods whenever a cartoon we like comes around. And since we can't go back, the best thing to do is not worry about it, and just deal with it. There are more important matters going on in the word. So read that book from the children's section of the library! Cartoons like Ducky Momo or My Small Horse: Magical Friendship! You wear those kiddie outfits, watches, and backpacks with pride. And remember, just be you, and don't let any people tell you what or what you can't do or like!...unless it's illegal, then its highly recommend that you don't do it."
"Uh-huh baby girl!" An African American lunch lady cheered. "You tell them, sister! Let your true colors shine now and for always!" All of the teens cheered, and gave her a standing ovation. Everyone except for the mean girls.
"Whatever." One said, and she and her friends resumed on eating. Every student sat back down and continued eating. Candace got down from the table, and sat down. Stacy sat next to her. Candace sighed with content.
"Phew, that was hard for me. But I'm glad I got that off of my chest."
"Candace!" Her mom called her that night. "Telephone; it's Jere…" In an instance, Candace was by her mother's side. "my."
"Give it, Mom!" Candace ordered. "Give it, give it; give it! Please, I need to hear what he says!" Linda gave her daughter the phone. She then went off to do the dishes.
"Hello, Jeremy" Candace spoke into the phone, playing with the cord. "And what do you want to tell me? I'm all ears."
"I know this is short notice." Jeremy said to her on the other end. "But, can you babysit Suzy and her friends tomorrow? She and her friends want to go to the lame Ducky Momo Live, and…"
"Ducky Momo isn't lame!" Candace heard Suzy argue. She would agree with her, but since this was her boyfriend taking to her, she stayed quiet about it.
"Anyways, my parents and I are going to my dad's friend's retirement party. So, can you do it?" Candace wanted to say no, but again, since this was her boyfriend, couldn't.
"Sure thing, babe!" She just said. She could see Jeremy smile in her head.
"Thanks Candace; I knew I could count on you."
"I'm just trying to be the best girlfriend."
"'Thanks, Candace, you're a life saver. We'll drop them off at one."
"Okay; I'll be here." They said their goodbyes, and hung up.
"So, what did Jeremy want?" Linda wanted to know as she was doing the dishes.
"I'm taking his sister and her friends to Ducky Momo."
"But you're taking your brothers, remember?"
"I know, but I can take them too." Linda was unsure.
"You sure?"
"I'm sure. Anything for Jeremy!"
"Well as long as you're sure."
The next day, the doorbell rang exactly at 1:00.
"I got it!" Candace said to her mom who was about to answer. Candace opened the door. Her boyfriend, Suzy, and Suzy's friends, Beth, Helen, and Brittany were on the other side.
"Jeremy; hi!" Candace greeted.
"Hi, Candace." Jeremy greeted back. He greeted Linda, and Phineas and Ferb who came into the room.
"Candace is going to take us to Ducky Momo too." Phineas announced.
"She is?"
"Yeah, our parents are going to a gala."
"Oh," He looked at Candace. "Gosh, gee…" He was about to say more when Candace spoke.
"I can handle them all. Don't worry; you just enjoy the party."
"Well, thanks again then." They then heard a car honk from outside. "I have to go." He and his sister hugged, said their goodbyes, and he left. Linda dug in her purse, and went to her daughter.
"Here's the money for concessions and other stuff you kids might want." Linda said, giving the money to her daughter.
"Thanks, Mom." Candace put the money in her purse.
"Candace can drive before my brother?" Suzy wanted to know.
"She got her license the first week of school." Linda told her. "And for that, we're really proud."
"Oh, Mom, stop!" Candace said. "You're embarrassing me."
"Well, it's true." Linda's husband then came into the room with a coat on.
"Are you ready my dear?" He asked her. Linda put on her coat.
"I sure am. Let's do it." They said goodbye to the children, wished Candace luck, and left. Candace looked at the kids as Phineas and Ferb put on their coats.
"Okay," She spoke to them. "If we a go now, we may get good seats." The kids agreed, and all went to the car. Suzy stayed behind, staring blankly at Candace.
"What?" Candace asked her.
"I just can't believe you got your license before my brother did." This annoyed Candace.
"Just get into my mom's car."
When they got to the arena, Candace recognized some people from her school. Wow! She thought to herself. A lot of people from school are here. She smiled to herself. My inspirational speech must have spoken to them. I feel so proud.
"So, are we going to find our seats?" Suzy wanted to know. "Or are you just going to stand there?" Candace snapped into reality.
"Oh, yes, yes we are." She replied. "Now everyone, stay with me as we…" Suzy took of running over bleachers running for their seats. "SUZY!"
"Wow, that girl is really excited for the show to start." Phineas observed.
"That or she's just doing it to make me tick. Now, come on." They went after her.
"Suzy!" Candace scolded once they sat by her. "I know you're excited about the show, but you have to not run off."
"Sorry, Candace." Suzy faked. Candace scowled at the girl. The lights dimmed. "Yay, it's starting!" Candace paid attention to the stage.
"That was AMAZING!" Suzy said at the end of the show. People were getting up, gathering their things, and leaving. "I wish I could see it again.
"I know!" Beth agreed. "I never wanted it to end!"
"Okay," Candace spoke. "Anybody want to go to the bathrooms?" Helen raised her hand. "Okay, we'll go to the bathroom, then leave."
"Ooooh; a Ducky Momo backpack!" Suzy looked as she saw a lone one on a self in a shop. "I want it! It looks like the last one."
"Candace!" Helen complained. "I really have to go!" Candace looked at her.
"Well, can't you hold it a little longer?" She shook her head.
"I have to go now!" Candace sighed. She looked at Suzy.
"We'll come back after we take Helen to the bathroom."
"But it may be gone by then!" Suzy whined.
"But I can't…" Suzy gave Candace her pouty face. "I…I…"
"We'll take her." Phineas offered, coming to his sister's rescue.
"Oh no, Phineas. That's sweet of you, but I'm responsible for all of you. I don't want you to get lost."
"We won't get lost. And if we do, we'll just ask." Brother and sister exchanged smiles. Phineas and the others left. Suzy tugged on Candace's arm.
"Come on!" The little girl whined. "Before someone else claims it." They went inside the store where it was on the shelf.
"How much does it cost?"
"How should I know? I'm only five. I don't read good yet."
"And you don't use good grammar yet, either." Candace mumbled under her breath.
"What was that?!"
"Nothing, nothing!"
"You better not be lying. I learned not to lie from Ducky Momo."
"You lie by telling your brother that you like me." She murmured again.
"What?!"
"Nothing!"
"You're lying again!" Candace sighed, and looked at the price. $14? She thought to herself. But I saw the same backpack for $11 at MelMart. She looked at Suzy again. "Come on Suzy, we'll go to Melmart and buy it."
"No; I want it now!"
"But Suzy, I know you don't understand money, but you'll understand it's the smarter decision."
"I want it!"
"Suzy, please, don't cause a scene. I beg of you." Suzy collapsed on the floor, pounding her fists, making a temper tantrum. "I WANT IT; I WANT IT, I WANT IT!" People looked at her. Candace sighed, irritated and embarrassed. She grabbed the backpack from off the shelf.
"Okay, you can have this one; just calm down!" Suzy calmed down, and cheered.
"Yay; thanks Candace!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever."
Candace put the plush on the counter when they got there. She dug in her purse for $14. The cashier looked around Candace's age. The cashier grabbed the backpack and scanned it.
"That'll be…" She began.
"I know!" Suzy said. "It'll be fourteen dollars. We looked at the price, lady." The teen looked at her.
"Sorry about her." Candace apologized for her. "You know, kids, right? What are you going to do?" The teen gave Candace the bag as Candace gave her the $14.
"I want the backpack on." Suzy told the babysitter.
"Okay." Candace said. "I suppose it won't hurt." She gave Suzy the backpack, who put it on her back,
"We're back, sis." Phineas announced as he and the others came to them.
"Great." Candace said. "Let's go to the car." Suzy started jumping in pace.
"Now, I have to use the bathroom!" She whined. Candace looked at her.
"Why didn't you go when Helen did?"
"I didn't have to go then."
"But…"
"Please, Candace!" Candace sighed.
"Fine!" But as they left the store, Suzy grabbed a Ducky Momo pen, and mischievously put it in Candace's pocket.
As they left, the alarm sounded. The three young girls pretended to be scared. Suzy clung onto Candace.
"What is that sound?" She questioned.
"It's the alarm." Candace replied. "Someone took something without paying."
"What idiot would do that?"
"I have no idea. Not us, that's for sure."
"Young lady!" A security guard said, coming to them. "Can you open your purse, and take stuff out of your pockets?" Candace just looked at him.
"But I didn't do anything wrong, sir. I swear!"
"Well the alarm is going off for some reason. You better do as you're told just in case." Candace opened her purse, and showed him. She closed it, and felt inside her pocket. She felt the pen.
Huh? What's this? She thought. She took out the pen. She grinned lamely at the guard who wasn't happy.
"How did that get in there?" She asked. She noticed the guard's outstretched hand, and gave it to her.
"Shoplifting is a crime." The guard told her. "You could go to jail."
"I didn't steal anything, I swear!" The guard looked at the bag. "This is all paid for!" The guard then left. "I didn't steal!" She sighed.
Candace and the others stood up from the bench when Suzy got out of the bathroom.
"Now, before we leave," Candace started. "Does anybody else want to use the restrooms? Going once, going twice…"
While she was looking away, Suzy took out the almost finished toilet paper roll she took out of her stall, and put it in the babysitter's pocket "Too late! We're going now!"
As they were leaving, Suzy made the toilet paper unravel, making a toilet paper trail on the floor. Her friends giggled. A boy holding onto his mother's hand as they were walking noticed this, and laughed.
"Look, Mommy!" He told her, pointing. "A toilet paper trail!" Candace noticed this, and screamed. She blushed in embarrassment.
"Hey!" A security guard scolded, running over to them.
"Uh-oh!" Suzy said. She looked at Candace. "Busted!" Candace scowled at her.
"Toilet Paper stays inside the bathrooms!" The guard told the teenager.
"But," Candace stuttered. She pointed to Suzy. "Her…she…" The guard looked at Suzy, who played innocent.
"I didn't do it!" She lied. "I'm just an innocent little girl." The guard glared at Candace.
"But…she…" She sighed, and gave the guy the roll back. "Oh, forget it! Come on people, let's get out of here." Suzy and her friends giggled, then followed her and the others.
Candace panicked when she didn't see her mom's car in in the place that she parked at. She ran to the spot.
"No, no, no, no." She said to herself.
"Uh, Candace?" Phineas asked his sister. "Where Mom's car? Isn't this where you parked it?" Candace nodded, not wanting to.
"She's going to kill me." She was then determined. "Help me look for it." They went off, looking at every row.
"This is boring!" Suzy complained a while later when they were still looking. "We could be doing other fun stuff, but instead we have to do this." Candace glared at her.
"Be nice, Suzy!" She told her. "I'm your ride home remember."
"Yeah, I remember. When I get a car, I won't lose it like this."
"Ditto." Brittany agreed. Candace glared at them.
"Candace?" Her brother asked. Candace looked at him.
"Yeah, Phineas?" She wanted to know.
"Isn't your car in the Brielle Bunny row?"
"Yeah, why?" Phineas pointed to a wall with a picture of a baby chick with an eggshell on its head. Underneath it read 'Clair Chick.'
"Well, we're on 'Clair Chick.'" Candace looked at it.
"Shoot!" She looked at the others. "We're going to have to go find it." Suzy sighed as they went to the elevator.
A while later, they found Linda's car, and got in. Candace drove off.
It wasn't until a little later, Ferb pointed to the gas gauge. It was almost empty.
"You're almost out of gas." He explained. Candace looked at it as well.
"Thanks, Ferb." She responded. She looked at the rearview mirror. "Okay, we're making a pit stop at the gas station." The girls all moaned.
Candace filled up, and told the kids to stay in as she went to pay. She thought about it, then came back moments later.
"On second thought," She said. "You all better come with me. I don't want to be responsible if bad guys take you."
"Why would we let bad guys take us?" Suzy questioned. "We're not stupid, and if they do happen to try, we'll scream, kick them in the legs, and run away."
"They might be extremely dangerous, Suzy. I'll feel better if you all come with me."
"They could take the car away." Ferb pointed out.
"Well, if that happens, Mom'll kill me, but she'll kill me even more if anything happens to you guys, plus Jeremy's and your friends' folks. Jeremy will never talk to me again."
"Because you'll be dead." Suzy quipped.
"How is that possible?" Beth asked. "If you're dead, they can't kill you any more. It just doesn't make sense."
"Just come with me." Candace said. Suzy and her friends sighed, and unbuckled their seatbelts.
Duncan waited at Candace's car. In his hands was a plastic bag. It had a Blueprint they stole from Blueprint Haven, and a pack of doughnuts he stole from this store. Candace and the kids saw him.
"Hey!" She shouted, running up to him. The kids followed. "What are you doing here at my mom's car?" Duncan was confused.
"You must be confused." He said. "This is my car."
"No, this is my mom's car." Duncan got mad.
"No, this is my car!"
"My mom's!"
"My car!"
"My mom's!"
"Ferb," Phineas said to him. "I'm glad we don't drive yet, so we don't have this kind of drama yet."
"And we're luckier." Suzy added. "We have more years to wait."
"Well, we don't have to when self-driving cars are on the market." Ferb pointed out.
"Oh yeah!" Beth remembered. "Then we'll all be lucky!" They then heard a honk.
"DUNCAN!" Howie shouted from the car. It was exactly like Linda's. "Come on; we're in this car!" Duncan and the others looked at him. Duncan gave Candace a lame smile as she glared at him.
"Oops; my bad!" He confessed. "I'm sure I'm not the only one who's done this before, right?" Candace didn't answer. "I'm going to go now."
As he was talking, Suzy took out the blueprint in one of Duncan's bags, unaware of what it was. She opened her backpack, and put it inside. She zipped it, put it back on her back, and looked back up at Duncan again.
"Bye!" Duncan said and then took off. Candace told the kids to go.
"So," Howie said to Duncan as he got in the car. "Did you get the blueprints?"
"Yep!" Duncan answered. He tapped the bag. "I got it right here. And I have doughnuts too." Howie groaned.
"How did I know you were going to get doughnuts?"
"Because I love doughnuts?"
"Exactly."
"I can't help it, boss. I have a doughnut problem." Howie sighed.
"I know you do." Duncan grabbed for the package of doughnuts, and got two out. He offered one to Howie.
"You want one?" He asked.
"No." Howie answered. "You can stuff them all if you want to, but not me."
"Okay, more for me." Duncan withdrew the box, and put it back inside. He noticed the missing blueprints, and panicked. He grinned lamely.
"Uh, Boss. You might hate this, but I think I lost the blueprints". Howie hit the brakes, and looked at him.
"What?! What do you mean you lost the blueprints?"
"I lost 'em. They're not in the bag."
"Well, where are they then?"
"I don't know." Howie sighed.
"How can you be so stupid? You had one job, one job, and you messed it up."
"I'm sorry." Duncan saw Linda's car driving off. "But they might know. Follow that car!"
"How would they know? Do you think she or the other kids stole it?" Duncan shrugged.
"It's possible." Howie sighed again.
"Unbelievable, Duncan. Just unbelievable." He drove off again.