For awhile after the incident, all of the kids just sat around, talking about what had happened to the odd girl at the end of the street. This time they didn't even notice, let alone care that their marvelous invention had disappeared. They invented things nearly every day, but this was the first time that they had ever seen a psychiatric break before and now nobody knew what to do. It was terrifying, and yet held an element of mystery to it that drew them in.

Baljeet was afraid; if this girl was deeply disturbed, would she begin to target them all? His memories flashed to news stories about people who were mentally unwell attacking and mutilating people that they barely knew. He now wanted nothing to do with odd, unhappy Nellie any longer.

Isabella was enraged that anybody would act that way. One minute, Nellie had been a very kind young woman, even if she was somewhat dull and anti-social, and the next minute she began shrieking like a banshee and hurling insults at the people who only tried to help her...All because of broken glass? She felt confusion underneath her anger and perhaps, although Izzy would not admit it, a genuine pang of empathy for the confusing young person.

Buford felt discombobulated about the whole mess. He didn't know Nellie very well, or like her all that much. Until the incident she had only Been. He had no feelings for her otherwise, but now? Now she was creepy and crazy. He added Schizo to his list of nicknames, alongside Dinner Bell and Beanpole McGee.

Phineas was not sure in the least how he felt about Nellie or "Hannah" as she now called herself. It was his very nature to be kind and accepting, but what he had just seen defied all rhyme or reason. Phin knew that something was direly wrong with the strawberry-blonde, but would she tell him if he asked her? Her words rung in his ears; I don't like questions! It was almost certain that she would refuse to relinquish the details of her glass and red phobia or her insistence upon changing her name from Nellie to Hannah. Of course, Phineas Flynn would never give up. For him, being unable to solve a problem would be like a fish unable to swim. In his head, he made a declaration; Phineas, I know what Ferb and I are doing tomorrow.

Ferb, of course, had his take on things, and also of course, it was different than everyone else's. He had always been a man of science, and as such enjoyed figuring out the why instead of the what. Most everyone was focused on the fact that Nellie just had a horrific outburst, but he was more interested in what had caused her to react so violently to broken glass and why the color red was so awful to her. Was she mentally ill? Did something happen to Nellie when she was young that made her hate glass? Or was the fact of the matter that she was simply hateful and playing a game to make them all suffer? In truth, he had grown somewhat fond of little Nellie Alder; she may have been shy to a fault, but she always took time to congratulate him on his part in their projects and offer her assistance in anything. Nellie remembered who he was and that even though Phineas was the brain behind it all, he was the heart. She would always impart little tidbits of wisdom on various spiders, insects and exoskeletal beings that frightened other girls. Yes, he sincerely hoped that Nellie wasn't playing a cruel trick, but even deeper down, he hoped that she was.

Phineas, after an agonizingly drawn out silence, spoke. "Should we go check on her?"

Everyone was a bit startled by the sudden noise. Buford asked, "Who, Nellie? Why should we go and see her if she's gonna be a jerk like that?"

He sounded a bit incredulous after Buford said that. "Buford, whatever happened could be serious!"

"Yeah, well I'M bein' serious! That girl's got some mental problems or somethin' and I don't wanna be there when she decides to stab you all wit' a fork!" Buford got up, waving as he stormed off. "See ya on the ten o'clock news, Dinner Bell! You, Beanpole McGee and Schizo!"

Phineas groaned in frustration. Baljeet asked, "Who is Schizo?"

The boy cocked his head. "I think he meant Nellie." He gave the now vanished Buford a dirty look. "Anyway, whatever happened to Nellie or Hannah or whoever isn't going to get figured out by just standing around. Now let's go and see if she's at home!"

For some odd reason, the others agreed. It was silent as they meandered to the end of the block, mentally preparing themselves for the worst and hoping for the best. When they reached the steps of the charcoal dust colored house, it was Phineas who was composed enough to ring the doorbell and fake a smile when a pleasant-looking woman answered the door. She had black plastic glasses and stood a head shorter than their own mother. The woman had hair like Nellie and was most likely her mom. She smiled. "Hello there. Are you kids friends of Nellie's?"

Phineas nodded politely. "Yes, yes we are. May we see her please?"

The woman ushered them in. "Of course! Please come in, if you want."

The house was relatively nice on the inside, painted different shades of navy blue and beige with pictures and mementos adorning the shelves alongside stacks of Stumbleberry Finkbat, Nannie Truth and even classics like Moby Trick and 1987. One particular photograph caught Phineas and Ferb's attention; like moths to a flame, they gravitated toward a picture of what looked like Nellie as a very young child standing next to an older woman with curls pinned to the top of her head. Neither of them looked particularly happy or content with being together. In fact, the little girl seemed quite sorrowful through what was supposed to be a smile and what turned out to be an ill grimace.

The lady who had invited them in noticed their interest in the faded photo. "Lovely picture, isn't it? Of Nellie and her mother."

Isabella looked at the photo and back at the owner of the house. "That's Nellie's mother?"

She nodded, making a mournful face. "The world lost a great woman when Geraldine Alder died...It was all too recent for me, all to recent..." She noticed the troubled look on the faces of the children. "Oh, I shouldn't talk that way! I'm Denise Forster, Nellie's aunt. I'll go get her now."

The children collectively frowned. "Poor Nellie. That must have been awful to lose her mother."

A door swung open near the back of the house and a familiar tromping announced the presence of either Nellie or Hannah.

"What do you want? I told you, I don't LIKE morons!" It was Hannah alright. She was now in a powder blue dress with pigtails and rainbow hair clips, something Nellie would NEVER wear. Nellie always stuck to her yellow blouse and bright orange pinafore.

Phineas stepped up to her, seemingly unafraid. "Hannah? We just came to check up on you. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Why do you want to know?" Hannah seemed less angry this time and more curious, as if she was expecting a trap.

"Well, you ran away from us after you screamed at us for trying to help you. It isn't normal to get angry for no reason"

Hannah put a single hand on her hip. "I have a reason to be mad. I told you, I'm not the same as Nellie."

Isabella put her hands up in a questioning manner. "What does THAT have to do with screaming at us for no reason?"

Hannah growled. "You dint let me finish!" She stomped her foot, then reverting to her blunt speaking. "We're not the same, 'cause Nellie can't get angry. Her mommy won't let her, 'cause she says anger is unladylike an' we have to behave like perfect ladies." She was beginning to rile again. "Well I dint WANNA be a perfect lady! I got mad and I got in trouble an' that just made me even madder!"

The group was beyond confused now. "Hannah, Nellie's mother's dead. Her Aunt Denise told us so just now."

Hannah grinned ruefully. "Gone but not forgotten."

Phineas tried a different approach. "So Hannah, if you and Nellie aren't the same, are you related?"

Hannah frowned. "I told you not to ask me questions! I don't like questions!" Hannah stopped, sensing that perhaps she should just answer instead of yelling. "What do you mean by that?"

He began to explain. "You say you aren't the same and you don't look alike, but you seem to know Nellie and know who her mom was. Was Nellie's mom your mother too, or-"

A frightened reaction from Hannah interrupted him. "No! No no no! Geraldine Alder was not my mother, don't you ever say that!"

Phineas jumped back. Hannah threw an old throw pillow at him. "Get out! Get out now!"

As they left, Nellie's aunt looked at them in shock from her reading spot on the porch. "Leaving already?"

Isabella strained to smile. "Nellie wasn't really in the mood to see us."

Denise frowned. "Oh. I hope she'll be better next time. I'll see you later, then!" She was as oblivious as Phineas usually was.

When they had all split and the boys were home, Phineas and Ferb looked at each other. "Ferb," Phineas began, "I think we just found a clue."