Phineas and Ferb gave weak smiles. Candace stared at them with her mouth wide open. "What happened?" Candace said sternly. Phineas and Ferb looked at each other, smiles fading. They looked back at Candace.
"The truth?" Phineas said worriedly.
"The truth, from the very beginning." Candace said.
"Well… first I was born, then Mom died. Then Phineas' and your dad died and Linda had Phineas. Then about a year later you two were my step-siblings…" Ferb stalled for time.
"Ferb Isaiah, start from today." Candace said annoyed.
"Right…" Ferb said quietly.
Phineas took a deep breath. "Ferb thought that instead of cooking the turkey at 600 degrees for a hour, he decided to cook it at 1200 degrees for thirty minutes. Then, Perry knocked down Ferb's boom box and broke his CD's and we ran into our room to pick them up when Ferb smelled smoke. He screamed and when I ran in here, the turkey was on fire and I put it out and Ferb opened the window. Then, you walked in." Phineas said in one breath.
"A fire?! Oh my gosh! Are you two all right?" Candace asked.
"Yeah, we're O.K. A little dazed, but we're O.K." Phineas said. Candace sighed in relief.
"What are we going to do about the turkey?" Ferb asked. Leave it to Ferb to ask something like that.
"O.K. Umm… Ferb, you go get a fresh turkey from the deli." Candace said.
"Fresh?" Ferb asked.
"No, Ferb, a swimming turkey. Yes, a fresh one!" Candace said. She scanned her brothers. "First, get dressed." she said. Phineas and Ferb hurriedly got dressed.
"Candace, I have no money." Ferb said. Candace sighed. Phineas gave him $25 and Candace gave him another $25.
"Now hurry up and go before Mom and Dad get home." Candace said practically shoving Ferb out the door. When Ferb was out the door, Candace turned to Phineas. "You clean up the kitchen and set the table and all that. Mom, Dad, and the rest of the family will be here in about a half hour." she said.
"What if Ferb isn't back by then?" Phineas asked.
"Stall."
____________________________30 minuets later______________________________
The table was all set and Linda and Lawrence were home. The family started pouring in, with no sign of Ferb. "Hi, Phineas!" Phineas looked down. His four-year-old cousin looking up at him with a wide grin on his face.
"Hi, Kenny. How's Mark and McKay doing?" he asked.
Kenny frowned, "All they do is eat, sleep, cry, and poop." he said making a small face, but emedially perked up. "Where's Ferb?" he asked.
"Yeah, Phineas, where is Ferb?" Linda asked. Phineas looked over at Candace, who was holding Mark in one hand and McKay in the other. She gave him a shrug and mouthed "Don't tell." Phineas groaned. He hated lying, he was no good at it and he could never stop laughing.
"Uh, Ferb's getting ready, he'll be back in a minuet." Phineas said. His parents nodded and left the room. Phineas smiled at Kenny. "Want to here a joke?" Phineas said, looking for an excuse to laugh.
"Sure." Kenny said.
"O.K., well, this man was reading hi Bible and he asked God 'God, how much is a billion dollars to you?' and God answered 'A penny.' Then the man asked 'How much is a billion years?' and God answered 'About a second.' Then, the man asked 'Well, can I have a penny?' and God said 'Sure, just a sec.'" Phineas cracked up laughing. Kenny gave him a smile.
"That was lame." he said and walked away. Phineas stopped laughing and looked over at Candace.
"It was lame." she said.
"Ferb and I like it." Phineas said. Phineas went to the screen door to let Perry in, but Perry was no where to be found. "Perry? Perry!" Phineas called, but Perry didn't come. "Oh well, he'll turn up when he wants." Phineas said as he closed the door.
"Well, Phineas, are you sure Ferb will be down in a minuet?" Lawrence asked. "Uh…" Phineas stammered. At that moment, Ferb came from the living room carrying a platter with a top over it.
"Sorry, I would have been here sooner, but I got stopped by a road block named Kenny." Ferb said ass he set the platter on the decorated table.
"Well, then, let's say grace." Lawrence said.
At that moment, Kenny came running came running in the kitchen chanting: "Give me turkey in my belly keep me eating, eating, eating, give me turkey in my belly I say. Give me turkey in my belly keep me eating, eating, eating, keep me eating 'til the break of day!" Phineas and Ferb looked at each other and giggled. That's the exact same thing they would do if they were his age.
"O.k., then, everybody be seated." Lawrence said. Every one obeyed. They all grasped hands, bowed their heads, and closed their eyes. Lawrence started the prayer. Every Thanksgiving, everyone says a short prayer and they go around the table. Phineas, Ferb, and Candace are always the last ones.
"Phineas, you know when you said a fresh turkey?" Ferb whispered to Phineas, who was on his left.
"He didn't say that, I did!" Candace whispered. Candace was on Ferb's right.
"Oh, yeah." Ferb whispered..
"Did you get change?" Phineas whispered.
"Yes, but there's something I should tell you." Ferb whispered.
"What?" Candace asked.
"Well, it's so fresh, it's barn-yard fresh." Ferb whispered.
"Ferb, what did you do?" Phineas whispered.
"Kids, if you don't stop whispering right now, you'll be getting a big spanking." Lawrence whispered. All three emedially got quiet.
When Kenny was done, it was Candace's turn. "God, I thank you that we're all back here safely and I pray that you'll do the same for the armies in Iraq." Candace prayed. She squeezed Ferb's hand. That's something the kids started to know when the other one's done.
"Heavenly Father, I thank you that these two families got merged together eight years ago. I thank you that the five of us were able to help each other coax with the death of our loved ones. I pray that you'll bless this family and give us strength to continue." Ferb prayed then squeezed Phineas' hand.
"Father, Son, Holy Ghost," Phineas started. Ferb and Candace , not to mention Phineas, almost burst our laughing on account of this prayer. Phineas started again. "Father, Son, Holy Ghost, who ever eats first gets the most." Phineas said.
All the kids said "Amen". Lawrence and Linda gave a disapproving look. "O.K., let's dig in!" Uncle Jack said as he lifted the cover from the platter. Everyone stared at the turkey.
"Now, Ferb, when I said a fresh turkey…" Candace started. There was a live turkey on the platter.
"Surprise!" Ferb said weakly, sinking down in his chair.