This will probably be the shortest chapter of this story. And one of the most dramatic. Only two more chapters after this one.
Perry sat up and rubbed his eyes awake at about 10 o'clock the next morning. He wasn't ready to go back out to the family reunion just yet. He needed some personal time.
So leaning back on Phineas' pillow he took the remote and turned on the TV. His favorite soap was on, and he saw the episode he'd missed a week before. Apparently, right before the new episode, they show the one from the week before.
Suddenly his watch beeped. Now why would Major Monogram be calling me if Dr. Doofenshmirtz is sick? Perry sighed jumping off the bed and grabbing his hat headed down the secret passage once again.
Landing in the chair in front of the screen he saw Major Monogram with a concerned look. "Ah, there you are Agent P. We have been observing you over the past couple of days…"
Observing me? Perry thought giving a sideways glance to Major Monogram. Are you guys going stalker on me?
"We, um, observe to make sure that on agents are still on guard," Major Monogram explained hesitantly. Straightening up he continued. "We have seen you with an unusually large group of platypuses or platypi, platy-people? Whatever. But with one in particular. We have one question for you, Agent P. do you choose the agency? Or the family and the girl?"
Perry was star struck. He was just at a family reunion! Not some convention for platypuses to ruin something!
Major Monogram pushed a button on the other end of the screen. On Perry's side popped up a tray with a fedora and a black bow tie. "We're doing this because we want loyal agents. I'm not saying that you're not loyal or anything we just…" he paused. "You know I'm probably over explaining this. All you have to do is choose. If you choose the hat, you stay in the agency. If you choose the bow tie, you choose family over the agency and essentially are quitting the agency. You have until the end of the day to choose. Either way you can stay with the family you're living with. Think about it."
Perry nodded solemnly, afterward, got up and left. He re-entered the room then when and sat on Ferb's bed. What? I can handle more than one thing at a time! Perry sighed inwardly. He never had a choice between a girl and the agency. He decided to walk down on the beach. He knew a certain place where no one ever walked, but was a great place to think.
He wandered out of the house then down to the beach. He hardly remembered they way, but he found his way there then went and sat on a rock. It looked like a lagoon because the rest of the lake was pinched off and the pool of water was calm, surrounded by many trees and a sandy beach.
Perry let his feet hang into the water. Sighing he began to think, arguing with himself about what to do. What kind of a question is this anyway? I'm only staying for a week and because he sees me with others he thinks I'm not loyal anymore. He groaned and flicked a pebble into the water.
Maybe it's time I move on from this job. Maybe my family can let her come home with me. Maybe…
Perry stood up, determined. Then another thought crossed his mind. What if I choose her, and then they say they have one too many platypuses at home? Then it will all be a waste. He sat back down.
What if I say I choose the bow tie for the rest of the week, then choose the agency? That will work, but he'll probably say only choose one.
Then again, maybe I can bring her into the agency? No, that won't work one platypus is enough.
Perry sat and went back and forth, front and backwards, inside and out, thinking about what to choose. Then at about 1 o'clock in the afternoon, Perry had made his choice. He got up resolutely and marched back the headquarter tunnel. He slid down and landed in the chair and pulled the lever and pushed the button.
Major Monogram appeared back on the screen. "Good afternoon, Agent P." He pushed the button again, and again the hat and the tie appeared. "Well, Agent P…or Perry."
Perry sat up nice and straight extended his arm and grabbed…the black bow tie.
Major Monogram gasped. Carl ran over to see what he picked then gasped too. Perry gave a regretful face, but stood up and put his hat on his stand. He saluted then exited the room.
