Forever Forever Forever Summer
Chapter 3: Sleepwalking Awake
“What a perfect summer day!” Phineas, as ever, smiles wide as he strolls into the backyard with Ferb in tow. Nice and early, just the way they liked it. “Y’know, we’ve tried lots of ways to make summer days physically the best they can be. I wonder how much else there is to do.”
“The world is full of infinite possibilities and opportunities, you never know what might be needed next.” Ferb says, clearly getting his daily wisdom out of the way early.
“That's true! There's always something to be done. Hmmm...”
The pair perch under their tree, lounging back onto the sturdy trunk.
Perry trots along the grass, flopping blissfully and rubbing his back on the ground once he’s between the brothers.
“Good morning, Perry! You're up early. Do you have any ideas?”
Their much loved platypus blinks absently.
Ktrktrktrktrktr.
What a wonderful sound.
“Hey, Phineas! Whatcha’ doooin’?” Isabella's voice, an equally delightful sound, sing-songs from the gate.
“Hi, Isabella! I was just thinking about all the ways we’ve tried to make every summer day the best it can possibly be. Ferb said there's always things to improve on but summer is already so perfect! We made the sunniest day, made the most of the solstice, made a beach to cool off... hm.”
Isabella gracefully sits beside them, waiting patiently for Phineas to find the right thought.
“That's it!” He snaps his fingers and stands proud. I know what we're gonna do today! Let's make Summer 2!”
“Summer too?”
“No, Summer number two! It's summer, but better! Summer Squared! No rainy days but the plants never dry out, beautiful sunshine with no sunburns and it’s always the perfect temperature! All in a climate controlled yet perfectly clear bubble over Danville. That way it’s still authentic sunlight so everyone can get their vitamin D.” He claps his hands together triumphantly. Time for another excellent day. “I’ll start rounding up our tools!”
~
In classic Flynn-Fletcher fashion, their daily project was mostly completed by noon. In their backyard stood a tall and thin structure a little taller than their house, dappled with many antennae and a large screen on its base which Ferb was still tinkering with. Now it was in front of him it reminded Phineas of a big metallic dandelion.
Just before they were ready to go, Buford and Baljeet finally arrived, their bickering giving them away before they came into view.
“Sorry we are late!” Baljeet apologises as he trots over to Phineas, leaving Buford by the gate. “Buford had... commitments.”
“I’ll never tell. What’s this big dandy-lion for?”
“It’s Summer Squared! We made S’Winter and S’Fall, so why not mix summer with itself?”
“Would that not make a dangerously hot day?”
“The opposite, actually! Ferb’s just adding the finishing touches, once it’s ready it’ll put a bubble-barrier over Danville, perfectly controlling the weather and humidity inside for the mathematically perfect summer day. The barrier even cleans out all the UV so we won’t get sunburns! It’s a bit like the biosphere we made, just transparent, and big, and not quite as versatile, but we can always iterate on it later.”
“A bio-what now?”
“The biosphere! We made it for the Fireside Girls to-” The realisation finally kicks in. “Oh, right! The rain was pretty bad that day, I forgot you hadn't seen it. Well, here’s a taster of what it was like! Are we ready to go, Ferb?”
Ferb flips the panel beside the screen closed and gives a firm thumbs up.
“Let’s fire it up!”
With the click of a button, the machine hums and its antennae glow, quickly launching a single “seed” into the air. Somewhere high above their heads, it releases the barrier and envelops Danville in a big, warm summer hug. Its job complete, it gracefully drifts back to the ground under an appropriately summer themed parachute.
“Great job on the pneumatics, Ferb!” Phineas smiles, watching the barrier launcher land with a subtle crunch.
“That’s it!?” Buford stomps between Phineas and the machine. “Nothin’ happened!”
“Well, summer is usually already pretty perfect. Here, we can check the readings.” Phineas leads Buford over to Ferb and the screen at the machine’s base, full to the brim with flowing and flickering information. Baljeet peers his head over their shoulders, instantly enamoured by all those wonderful statistics.
“This is nerd junk.”
Not entirely intentionally ignoring him, Phineas scans the numbers. “All looks good to me! It’s only a small change but it can make all the difference.”
“Booooring. What are we meant to do for the rest of the day, just sit here doing nothin’?”
“Well, since it’s mathematically perfect weather and it’s over the entire city, it would be a great reason to spend the day at the par-”
Something hits Phineas’ chest, knocking the breath out of his lungs. Nothing physical, nothing real, only a deep feeling of wrongness making itself known. He staggers a little, and for a moment, just for a split moment, he could swear everyone was staring him down. He blinks, and everything is as it should be.
“Phineas?” Isabella places a tender hand on his shoulder and looks at him with her big, soft eyes. Statistically adorable, as always. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Yeah. Fine. Sorry, just got a weird feeling for a second there.” He forces a chuckle, and it’s back to his usual smiles. “We don’t have to go anywhere to enjoy Summer Squared. We can relax here! Or, we probably still have some water pistols lying around if you don’t mind getting wet. Oh, or some snacks! I’ll get snacks!” Without waiting for a response, he jogs off and disappears into the house.
He slows to a stop in the kitchen and leans heavily on the counter, pulling himself back from the verge of hyperventilating. Deep breath in,
and out.
In,
out.
What was that...? A piece of him wanted to call this some kind of panic attack and leave it at that, but a nagging feeling in his chest knew otherwise. He’d experienced panic attacks, albeit only a few times, and it wasn't this. Similar, maybe, but not the same. It felt as if someone had punched the air out of him...
At the same time, he knew he’d felt whatever this was before, yet he couldn't think of when.
Taking one last deep breath, he sighed and took to rummaging in the fridge before anyone got suspicious about what he was up to in here. He could talk with Ferb about it later, but for now, he had snacks to gather.
After a few minutes, Phineas emerged from the back door with an armful of snacks; chips, some fruit and veggies, even some homemade granola bars.
“Here!” With a single graceful motion, he spreads the snacks under the tree. “Now we’re really ready to enjoy the perfect weather. Even Perry is still here to enjoy it!”
Everyone cheers, except Buford, and the day continues, everything in its place.
~
“Wait, is the day already over?” Phineas asks frantically. This was most definitely his bedroom, most definitely his bed, and he was most definitely in his pajamas, yet he had been in the dining room eating dinner just a moment ago, hadn't he?
Ferb, across the room on his bed, peers up from the book about bees he’s been reading. Phineas was forever glad they'd known each other so well and for so long that they could have a whole conversation just with glances if one of them wasn't so chatty.
“I keep getting weird feelings today, Ferb. Weren’t we eating dinner?”
Ferb tilts his head almost imperceptibly.
“I dunno. It’s just sorta...” He gestures vaguely, wiggling his hands around. “...unusual.”
“Sleep on it.” There wasn't much emotion in his tone, not that that was rare for him. It was solid and stern, more of a command than a suggestion.
Phineas reflexively leans away. Was it that strange?
Ferb shrugs, reading his mind like he always does. Without another sound, he places his book on the shelf that doubles as his headboard, turns off his lamp and settles under his cover facing away.
Conversation over, then.
“Oh. Uhm.” His grip on his covers tightens. “Good night, Ferb.”
A brief thumbs up is given in return, and nothing more.
For a time, Phineas’ gaze remains on his brother’s side of the room. Again, something so deeply, unfathomably wrong crept into his throat. But if Ferb dismissed it, it must be nothing. Just an off day. Just a bad night’s sleep. Sleep it off, be better in the morning. His head hit his pillow and he tried his hardest to convince himself it was something to sleep off.
He felt sick, he barely noticed Perry trot in and hop onto his bed. Maybe that was it, he was probably just ill. Good old Ferb, always looking out for him, making sure he gets enough rest.
In a suddenly very familiar way, he breathes in-
-and out.
Maybe as gently as he’s ever heard, Perry chatters.
“I could be doing better, to be honest with you, Perry.” Phineas murmurs, tussling his platypus’ fur. “Today was not the greatest day ever, or even close. But there's always tomorrow.”
Perry nudges against his cheek, not-purring so softly he could feel it more than he could hear it. He may be a platypus that doesn't do much but he always knew just what to do to make someone feel a little better in his own little platypus way.
Phineas wraps his arms around his fuzzy turquoise buddy, closes his eyes, and tries to get some sleep.