Chapter 2 – Story Time

Phineas' POV

Mom just stood there with this shocked look on her face. Ferb ran into the kitchen to grab paper towels, while me and Izzy picked up the watering can, looking uneasily at her.

Ferb came back with the towels, with Candace at his heels.

"What the heck is going on in – Mom?" Candace stared at our mother's dazed face. She turned to us. "What did you guys do to mom?" she asked angrily.

"I…I just asked mom who was our dad. Then she froze," I said.

She looked at me strangely. "What do you mean, "who was our dad"? Dad's in New York, remember?"

I shook my head. "Not Ferb's dad. Our dad. Just yours and mine."

Her angry face vanished, replaced with one of understanding. She glanced back at mom, who seemed to be finally getting back to her usual self.

"Umm…gosh, I knew this day would come. Okay, let's go sit over on the couch," she said sort of dazed. We sat next to her, me and Izzy on her right, Candace and Ferb on her left.

"I wanted to wait until you were both old enough to handle the truth. And I guess this is as good a time as ever."

She took a deep breath. I glanced over at Candace, who seemed as clueless as I was.

"A long time ago, long before either of you were born, I met a man in high school. He was very nice, and one of my best friends. When I was about 17 we decided to become more than friends, and we began dating."

"We fell in love with each other, and we dropped out of school and got married. We were so happy together, and I felt I'd made the right choice with my life. But then…one night…well, I won't give you all the details because I still think you're too young, but I got pregnant."

"With me?" interrupted Candace.

Mom wrapped her in a hug. "Yes, with you. I was so happy that I'd have a little baby of my own." She kissed her on her forehead.

"Everything seemed alright, he seemed happy enough that you'd be coming along." Mom sighed. "You made me the happiest girl in the world when you came along, you were my whole world. I knew you needed a sibling to play with, and I wanted a little boy as well. So, 6 years after you were born, I became pregnant with-"

"Me!" I interrupted.

Mom wrapped me in a hug, like she did with Candace.

"It was perfect. I had a loving husband, the cutest little girl, and a baby boy on the way. My life seemed absolutely perfect." She smiled at her memories.

Then her face turned grim. "But then, before Phineas was born, I found out my husband was cheating on me with another woman. He had been since Candace was 2. And I couldn't bring myself to forgive him, because I didn't know if I could trust him again. So we divorced." Mom's eyes filled with tears at this. All four of use leaned over and gave her a big hug, which seemed to calm her down enough to continue.

"Well, it was just me, Candace, and unborn Phineas. I found this cute little home, not too small, not too big, in a nice neighborhood with friendly neighbors, all with kids Candace's age, and mothers expecting."

"Where was this place, Mrs. Flynn?" Izzy asked.

She smiled. "Why, here, of course! Your mother lived across the street waiting for you to be born, and Jeremy and Stacy's mothers lived just down the street. It seemed a perfect spot to take care of my children."

"Of course, I still was upset about what had happened with my husband, and I thought I would remain a single parent. But then, I met Lawrence, Ferb's dad."

I saw Ferb smile from across the couch.

"We dated, and I fell in love again. I was more careful this time, because I wanted to make sure I didn't repeat the past. He was so nice and loving, though, and it was easy to trust him. We got married, and I met his son Ferb," here she patted Ferb on his head, since she couldn't reach him for a hug, "and you all know the rest."

The four of us sat here, thinking about all she'd said. So mom and my real dad got divorced before I was born. That's why I can't remember him.

Everything seemed alright, but I still needed to know something.

"Mom, do you know whatever happened to him?" I asked.

"I honestly don't know, Phineas. He could be anywhere by now. Oh, wait! I just remembered. He sends child welfare every few months for the two of you. Though I never really took time to look at the return address…" She stared off into space, thinking to herself.

I fidgeted a little impatiently. "So…did you get a check this month?"

She snapped out of her thoughts. "Oh…well, I haven't checked the mail yet. It should be coming in any day now, though."

I jumped up from the couch. "I'll be right back!" I called as I raced from the room to the front door. I ran down out walkway to the mailbox and flung the hatch open. I searched through the mail for anything that might be from my real dad.

Bills, bills, mom's Penny Shopper, bills, half off at Mr. Slushy Dog, bills, bills, check, bills, bi-wait, check?

I pulled the check out of the pile and stared down at the return label. Danville, USA. My heart stopped. He actually lives in Danville and I never knew it?

I quickly ripped open the envelope to get to the name on the check. It had a platypus print on it. Platypus? I thought mom and dad were the only ones who used that.

Pay To The Order Of: Linda Flynn (mom's name was written in sloppy writing, almost unreadable)

Total Amount: $150 (so that's where all our money for our projects comes from!)

Signed: Heinz Doofenshmirtz

Who the heck is that?