Perry stared out the window. A bird was fluttering back and forth. Perry wished it would make up its mind. Its indecisive flying was making him dizzy.

He adjusted himself so that he was more comfortable. He'd been waking up and falling back asleep all night, and he felt tired. But for some reason, he couldn't fall back to sleep.

"Is everything all right?" Asked Dana. "You look kind of-"

"I'm fine." Perry snapped.

"Oookay." Dana focused on her laptop.

"I didn't mean to snap at you like that." Perry said. "I'm not really feeling like myself today."

"Understandable." Dana said.

"At least I'll be home in a couple days." Perry sighed and pulled the covers tighter around him. "When do you get out, by the way?"

"Probably not for a couple of months."

"Oh. That stinks."

"Tell me about it. This whole thing with my boyfriend Ken… it hasn't been working out. Neither has my whole life. I mean, I know what I want. I want someone who's tough, but who doesn't show off. I want puppies. I want to buy that beachside property I keep saving up for. Why can't I get these things? I know I want them. I should stop waiting for them. I should just go straight up and get them."

"That's a good plan."
"I know. I think of it every single week." Dana shrugged. "I'm never really going to do it. I should just forget about it."
"I think you should try."

Dana looked at him. "Huh?"
"It's your life. You should be able to live where you want with whoever you want. I do, and I'm happy."

Dana kind of smiled. "Maybe I should try. …You know, maybe I will. As soon as I get out of here. I'm going to get that house. And those puppies. I never got your name, by the way."
"Perry."
"Maybe I'll name a puppy after you. I'm for sure naming one Carlos."

"What?"

"Carlos. After this toy." Dana held up a toy clown. "I got him a few days ago. He's been keeping my hopes up." She pressed his belly.

"Stay happy! Good things will always come." Carlos said.

Perry groaned.

Monogram entered the room. "All right, Agent P. We're going to get you cleaned up, and then we'll take you in for surgery."
"Good luck." Dana said. "And remember…"

She squeezed Carlos.

"Caring and sharing help set things right!" Carlos said.

"Thanks… I think." Perry allowed Monogram to pick him up.

Monogram brought Perry into the operating room. Doctor Roscoe was looking at a clipboard. A few other surgeons Perry didn't know were setting everything up.

"Why do surgeons wear green?" Perry asked Doctor Roscoe.

Doctor Roscoe looked up from his clipboard. "I don't know. I suppose it's… a sterile color or something."
"Very professional answer." Perry said. "I always thought they wore it because if they threw up during their job, and it got on their shirt, it'd just blend in. Unless it was blueberry smoothie. Or a ham sandwich."

Doctor Roscoe looked a little sick himself.

Monogram laid Perry down on the operating table. "Just sit tight for a few minutes while I talk to the surgeons."

Perry stared up at the ceiling. "Does the surgeon know what he's doing?"

"Yes." Doctor Roscoe said. "He's very aware."

"Okay. Just wondering."

"Any other questions?"

"Nah, I'm good."

"All right then." Monogram returned to Perry. "Everything will be fine. Just think good thoughts."

One of the surgeons placed a mask over Perry's face.

Perry didn't try to stay awake. He'd been tired before.

He instantly fell asleep.

At least his dream didn't have Carlos the Caring Clown in it this time.

Perry was standing on slimy earth. There were patches of dark grass around him in random places.

"New person!" A beagle bounded forward. "Hi! I'm Dalrond. But people mostly call me Daly. And here's… Buck, where'd you go? He was right behind me…"

"Rarf!" A dog made of nothing but bones jumped on Perry. He was apparently trying to lick him, but he had no tongue.

"There he is. Get down, Bucky."

Bucky got down.

"So, are you staying here, or are you just visiting?" Daly asked.

"I have… no idea. Where is this place?"

"This is Gluum."
"Yeah. Okay. I'm asleep again."

"Exactly. Are you asleep, or are you dead?"

"Huh?"

Daly sighed. "This is one of the many, many places that people go when they die. People sometimes wind up visiting here when they're asleep because their souls just want to get out and walk around for a bit." Daly tried to poke Perry, but his paw went directly through. "You see, I can't make real contact with you. You're just asleep. Still tied to the real world."

"And… Bucky. He knocked me down. Is he asleep, too?"

"Nah. Bucky's a strange one. He didn't even come here as a soul. Just as bones. That's why his yapping makes no sense."

"Arf arf!" Said Bucky, his bones clattering.

"We haven't had many people come here in a while." Daly said. "It's been kind of lonely. Most people decide to go elsewhere when they die."

"Where?"

"I have no idea. But since you aren't dead, you can bring someone back to the surface."

"So… I could bring you back to life if I woke up?"

"Yes. But no! This has been my home for eons." Daly smiled, revealing ghostly teeth. "I created the town of Gluum myself. Built it in a week. Isn't it nice?"

Perry looked around. Tons of falling-apart houses lined the streets. A creepy-looking transparent man was sitting on one of the porches.

"Um… I guess. Reminds me of a ride I went on once."

"Are you looking for anyone?" Daly asked. "I can sniff someone out. You can drag a family member or friend back up. Or even a total stranger. But I can only sniff people out who are closest to you. And don't worry, if you bring them back, their bodies heal to their 'alive' status." He began sniffing, then pointed over at a ghostly woman who was standing next to a store called Deadly Deals. "You know her? She doesn't appear to have any relation to you, but you two have a similar aura. You may have come in contact with someone she knew at one time."

Perry studied the woman. She had a sad look around her. She looked familiar, sort of like Ferb, in a way.

Perry looked away. "I don't think I want to bring her back up."

"No matter. You know her?"

"Wasn't alive when she was. But it's better if she stays down here."

"Understood." Daly gave a nod. "She's been here for… quite a few years, I'm not sure how many. But she's a very sad woman. I have no idea why."

"Tell her that her family turns out okay. They're very happy."

Daly appeared confused, but he nodded. "I will." He turned his head in the direction of the woman and closed his eyes.

The woman started to smile. She looked shyly down at the ground.

"There ya go." Daly said. "So, do you want a tour?"

"Not really." Perry said.

"Anyone you can think of you'd want to find?"
Perry thought for a while. "Yes, actually. Um… do you know anyone… named Terrence?"

Daly looked at Bucky, who was jumping around, clattering noisily. "Turkey? Sure. He plays with Bucky. You knew him?"

"He was my best friend."

Even if this was a dream, the thought of seeing his old friend again gave Perry a very warm feeling. He missed Terrence so much. It

had been a long time since his best friend's death, but it still upset Perry greatly.

"Okay. I'll see if I can round him up." Daly followed Bucky, who was running off in a random direction.

Perry trailed behind them.

Daly hopped up onto what was left of a stage and gave a loud bark. "Gluum residents, gather!"

Tons of souls floated around the stage. Bucky did a little spin, like he was performing for the captive audience.

Men, women, dogs, cats, fish and even a dinosaur were all standing around the stage, watching Daly intently.

"Are we all here?" Daly asked. He began to count. "five seventy, five seventy one… Five seventy one and a half! We're all here!"

"A half?" Perry asked.

Daly pointed at a ghost alligator who had obviously been cut in half before becoming a ghost. Perry shuddered.

"We're looking for Terrence." Daly said.

"Here!" Said three voices.

"Terrence. Turkey."

A ghost pushed through the crowd and wandered onto the stage. It was Terrence, still looking exactly the same as he had when Perry had last seen him.

Perry felt tears of joy come into his eyes. He and Terrence ran to each other. They tried to hug, but Terrence went right through him.

"I haven't seen you in such a long time." Terrence said. "I missed you so much!"

"I missed you more!"

Perry looked over at Daly. Daly was scuffing his feet and looking at the ground. Bucky had sat down on the stage with a soft, melancholy clatter.

"Tell me everything that happened." Terrence said, leading Perry off of the stage. "I want to know about all of it."

"Every single detail?"

"Of course! How's the agency doing?"

"Really amazing."

"I can't believe Devon made a musical about himself." Terrence was doubled over with laughter.

"I know! I managed to come in right at the end, too. It was like, crash. The end!"

"How perfect was that?"

"I know, right?" Perry smiled. "Well, I suppose we're all caught up now."

"I still can't believe how much I've missed." Terrence shook his head. "Darren taunting you, the big rogue battle… you've made contact with your owners! And gosh, four platypups? I never would have thought. You've grown, buddy."

"I'm really here, right? I'm not just having a really crazy dream?"

"Nah. It's here. But don't worry, your body's still breathing. No one will think you're dead."

"I really wish I could hug you."

"I wish I could hug you too. But I'm really happy for you. Your life seems to be going wonderfully."

"I can take you back up." Perry said. "Daly told me."

"Are you sure?" Terrence asked skeptically. "How do I say this… my body isn't exactly… intact."

"He said your body would heal."

Terrence nodded slowly. "I'm… I'm sorry, Perry. But I don't really want to go back."

"Why not?"

"My home is here. With Bucky and Daly and the others. I miss you more than anything, but I can't leave. I live here."

Perry frowned. "Oh. I guess I understand."

"Please don't be upset." Terrence begged.

"I just really missed you." Perry said. "My life hasn't been the same without you."
"Perry, your life is going the way it needs to go. And we shouldn't mess with its course. I miss you too, but you need to keep living. My time came. My life was good. But it's over now."

Perry nodded. He felt a lump in his throat. "All right. Thank you."