Monogram stood in front of all the agents. "I called you here to discuss our latest Halloween party!"

The agents cheered.

"Because they haven't discussed it enough already." Perry mumbled.

"Whadja say?" Palmer asked.

"Nothing."

"Now, Agent D is hosting this spectacular event." Monogram continued. "There will be food, drinks, games and everyone will come in costume!"

Perry looked toward Palmer to see his reaction.

Palmer wasn't there.

Panicked, Perry shoved aside Otis the owl and Rayne the rabbit to see if Palmer was behind them.

"There will also be a… ACK!"

Perry turned and stared at Monogram.

Monogram's pants had fallen down. Palmer was standing near him, chewing thoughtfully on his belt.

"AGENT P!" Monogram yelled.

Perry went up to the front. Monogram glared at him. "Watch your child."

"Palmer, come here. Give Monogram back his belt."

"I found it, so I get to keep it." Palmer snapped.

"Palmer."

Palmer rolled his eyes and thrust the belt back into Monogram's hand. He stormed away.

"I don't expect that from you, Agent P." Monogram scolded. "You have to keep watch of him while he's here. He is YOUR responsibility. DON'T let him do anything like that again, you hear?"
Perry scowled. Monogram knew he hated being chided, especially while the other agents were watching.

He went over to Palmer, grabbed his hand, and dragged him out of the room.

"You can't just go around and DO stuff like that!" He growled.

"I like doing it." Palmer said.

"I don't care. You have to behave. I get the blame for anything you do here."

"Why?"

"I don't know, I just do!"

"Well, that's a stupid rule."
"It may be stupid, but it's in effect. So don't try anything funny."
"Stop yelling at me!"

Perry sat him down in a chair. "I'm sorry. I'm just under a lot of pressure right now. This is around the time that agents get bonus checks. That's…"

"A big wad of money. I'm not an idiot."

Perry smiled a little. "Good to have you back, Pal."

Palmer smiled too.

Darren came over to them. "What do you think, Perry? Should we have vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting or chocolate cupcakes with orange cream frosting?"

"Are you his friend?" Palmer asked.

Perry ignored him. "I'd say the chocolate ones. You can't go wrong with chocolate. And don't forget to get plain ones, so the dogs don't get sick."

"You're good at this." Darren said, scribbling down the information. "For someone who hates parties, you sure got a flair for planning them."

"And he can kick your butt." Palmer said.

Darren stared at him for a moment. "Who's that?"

"Palmer. You remember him. He blew you up a few weeks ago."

Darren nodded. "Ah yes. He made the paint tracks on the floor. You're growing up nicely, aren't you?"

Palmer shrugged. "I dunno."

"Well, I gotta get back to planning! See you guys later!" Darren waved and left.

Perry turned back to Palmer. "I'm going to fix things up with Monogram. You think you can manage?"

"Yeah."


Perry flopped down on the O.W.C.A meeting table, holding an empty mug.

Monogram had made the last pot of coffee and drank it all. Perry practically ran on the stuff.

"I have gathered all you agents together to, once again, discuss the Halloween bash." Darren said. He was at the head of the table.

"Mm." Perry mumbled. He closed his eyes.

"Halloween is scary." Carrie whispered.

"Why are you whispering?" Peter the panda asked.

"She's scared Halloween will find her if she doesn't." Ferdinand the frog joked.

"Perry? Are you awake?" Darren asked.

"No."

"Can you sit up?"

"No."
"You had all night to sleep."
"Sleeping is good for Perry."
"Let's get an ice bucket." Pinky said loudly.

"No ice." Perry muttered. "Monogram forgot to do the thing where you go and you get stuff and give money and get ice."

"Shopping?" Pinky suggested.

"Yeah. That word."

"Let's play pillow fight!" Palmer shouted, popping up between Pinky and Perry. He sped away.

"Loud noise hurts ears." Perry held out his mug. "Cup so empty…"

"Get him some coffee, for the love of Pete." Darren growled.

"We're out." Peter said. "Monogram drank it."

"Well, find some!"

"Go do the thing and go and pay money and get the wonderful coffee that makes Perry happy and not sleepy." Perry said drowsily.

"Stop talking like that." Pinky said.

"Hm?"

"You know, that 'Perry likes coffee' stuff."

"But Perry does like coffee. It makes him very happy…"

"YOU'RE Perry. You say I like coffee."

"I'm Perry?"

"YES!"

"…Oh. I forgot. You're right. I am Perry… right?"

"He's useless right now." Ferdinand said.

"Yeah, I see that."

Palmer returned and poured some coffee into Perry's mug.

"Where'd you get that?" Darren asked.

Palmer smiled. "It's a secret."

Perry sat up and blinked, staring at his mug. He took a drink.

"…Better." He said after a moment. He finished the rest off.

"Palmer, isn't that cup you used to pour the coffee with Monogram's?" Ferdinand asked.

"Yep."

"Okay then." Ferdinand said. "Back to the topic."

"I think the costumes shouldn't be too freaky." Darren said. "We don't want to terrify anyone."

"All you have to do to terrify Carrie is dress up like a pretty fairy princess." Peter reminded him.

"Let's draw the line at unicorn costumes." Perry said. "Especially if they have sharp horns."

"Maybe we could do a scary event." Peter said. "Like…"

The lights went out.

"Like that!" Peter clapped his paws. "We can turn out all the lights and poke people and pretend we're ghosts! We can call it Boo Time!"

"PALMER." Perry warned.

"Whaddya want?"

"Turn the lights go back on. You're getting too old to chew wires."

"They're not gonna chew themselves!"
"And aren't we glad for that. Push the emergency switch."

Dim lights came on.

"You'll get your stupid check, I guess." Palmer growled. He sat down on the floor and folded his arms.

"You can't get mad at me for not letting you destroy a wire." Perry said gently.

"I'm bored."
Darren looked around. "Where's my orange glitter? I had it right here…"

Perry held out his hand.

Palmer gave him a confused look.

"Cough it up, buddy." Perry whispered.

Palmer stuck his hand in a fur pocket and tossed Perry the glitter.

"Go find something to do." Perry turned back to the others and stuck the glitter on the table.

"There it is!" Darren said happily.


"And the kitty goes!"

"Meow!"

"And the doggie goes!"

"Woof!"

"And the cow goes!"

"Moo!"

"And the platypus goes!"

Monogram waited, staring at Perry across the table. Perry was reading something.

"And the platypus goes!"

Perry licked his finger and turned a page of his book.

"Agent P?" Monogram stopped strumming his guitar. "Aren't you going to sing 'That's how the animals go' with us?"

Perry looked up, bored.

Monogram started strumming again. "And the platypus goes…"

Perry stared at him.

Devon fell asleep and started to snore. "GNAAAKKKKK…"

"Good, Agent P!" Monogram hadn't been watching.

Perry felt a little offended. He looked back down at his book.

"All right, agents!" Monogram held up a small device. "I think we've practiced enough. Let's record it for our O.W.C.A answering machine!"
The animals cheered. All except for Devon, who muttered "Gravy…" in his sleep.

Carl started the recording.

"AAAAND… The frog goes!"

"Ribbit!"

"And the monkey goes!"

"Eee!"

"And the pig goes!"

"Oink!"

Perry closed the book. It was dusty.

"And the bear goes!"

"Gggchoo! Gggchoo! Ggghgggchoo!" Perry sneezed on Bernie the bear.

Bernie looked disgusted. "Grrr!"

"Nice harmony, boys!" Monogram stopped the recording. "But please wait until I say 'the platypus goes', Agent P."

Perry hated the stupid song. He'd much rather be at home. But he had to stay at the agency, where Palmer was, until Poppy got back…

Frustrated, he slammed his book down on the table, waking Devon.

"HEY! WAITER! COME BACK! I NEED A SIDE ORDER OF…" Devon yelled. He looked around. "Uh… woof?"

Perry stormed out of the room, dialing on his videophone. It was almost suppertime. How long was she supposed to be gone?
Poppy answered after a couple of rings. "Hi, Perry. How's Palmer doing?"
"How is he doing? Let's see. He broke the lights system, stole a belt and some glitter, ate a picture book and deleted one of Carl's documents. Oh, and he stuck an egg in Monogram's pocket. How's your day been?"

Poppy frowned. "I'm sorry. I'm a little hung up right now and can't grab him."
"I have to get home in like ten minutes."

"So take him with you."

"Hey, I'd like our house to still be standing by the time you get back!"

"You're getting tired. Did you work hard?"

"I've been helping my friend plan a stupid party, so yeah! Get your kid before I lose it!"

"Perry, call me later when you're less stressed. You're talking crazy."

Perry shut the phone off and angrily turned to go back into the dreaded Singing Room.

Palmer was standing right behind him, looking heartbroken.

"I…" How long had he been there? Perry tried again. "Palmer, I'm just…"

Palmer ran into the bathroom and slammed the door.