EXTRA: ARE WE A LITTLE TOO YOUNG...?

(takes place BEFORE ep1: Rollercoaster)

PHINEAS and FERB were sleeping soundly in their bedroom when Lawrence slammed the door open, switching the lights on and happily jumped beside the boys' beds, making them wide awake.

"Good morning, boys!" Lawrence exclaimed over the boys' ears. "Happy first day of summer!"

Phineas rubbed his eyes as he feels blinded by the very bright light over him and gave out a huge groan. "Dad, do you mind...?"

"Oops, sorry for disturbing you, boys..." Lawrence scratched his head in apology, realizing that he just stormed inside the children's room very early in the morning. The day before was very busy since they need to complete their requirements in school before summer starts, so these boys really need some good and long sleep after a very busy day. Then after a moment of silence, he held a poster in front of Phineas' face. "Look, your mom and I decided to make the first day of summer memorable by having a family trip!"

The boys moaned again, but this time Phineas forced himself to sit up and look at the poster, yawning. "What's that...?"

"It's written in big letters, dear," Lawrence stated as he pointed over the words in the poster for Phineas to see. "It's the Tri-State Fair!"

At that very moment, Phineas and Ferb were now really wide awake.

A few minutes later, Lawrence and the boys then went down to the kitchen after preparing their things, seeing Linda washing dishes and Candace lazily eating her cereal.

"Oh, good morning, boys." Linda greeted. "Happy first day of summer."

"Happy first day of summer, mom."

Candace was then heard stomping her feet in furiousness. "You know, I don't remember the first day of summer being a holiday."

Phineas and Ferb stared at their sister in wonder, in which Linda commented: "Somebody got up in the wrong side of the bed this morning."

The two boys just shrugged and approached Candace, sitting beside her in the dining table.

"Have you heard, Candace?" Phineas grinned. "We're going to the Tri-State Fair today!"

Candace scoffed. "I don't see anything great about it."

"Actually, what we're only looking forward for is to ride the roller coaster there." Phineas joyfully declared, making Candace glare at him. "You see, this will be the first time we're gonna ride a roller coaster. Right, Ferb?"

Ferb nodded silently.

Candace continued to munch at her cereal while she leaned her head at her hands. "I've never ridden a roller coaster too, and I'm never looking forward to. What's so great about a roller coaster? Just the sight of it is making me puke already."

"Well..." Phineas glanced at Ferb. "Maybe it's because we don't have the fear of heights than you do."

"Oh, don't start with me."

. . .

After an hour of preparing and arranging things, the Flynn-Fetcher family now headed towards the state fair with their car. Joy and excitement were written all over Phineas' face, as he restlessly sat beside Candace. When they finally arrived at the park where the state fair's held, Phineas and Ferb happily skipped down the car and started running on random places.

There's a fair - not too many and not too few - number of people around so the line in the central attraction of the park won't be too long. After parking the car, the family - dragged by the excited Phineas - headed towards the park's roller coaster.

"You sure seem very excited to ride that roller coaster, Phineas." Linda laughed. "Well, it's not surprising since it is your first time."

Phineas laughed. "I've seen a lot of roller coasters in TV shows and some parks, and I've dreamed on riding one. This should be the coolest day ever!"

. . .

And here they are, in the said main attraction and the hopeful coolest day ever (note the italicized), where the two boys inside the roller coaster exchanged blank glances as the coaster zoomed down and suddenly stops after like... FIVE SECONDS, not knowing it's the end already. The Controller then says, "Please exit to the left.", making the kids twitch eyebrows in extreme infuriation.

. . .

"That... Was... IT?" Phineas growled as he approached his family, clutching his fists in total furiousness. "It just zoomed down for five seconds like some kiddie slide! They call that a roller coaster? I don't even call that a RIDE!"

"Relax, boy..." Lawrence patted Phineas' shoulder, trying to calm him down. "Our jaws dropped here as well when we saw it. We're sorry for the first day of summer and your first roller coaster ride to be...well... Lousy."

Candace also comforted the two ill-starred children. "I understand what you feel, guys... I will be crushing that coaster to pieces if I were in your position right now." She then glanced at her parents. "We've just broken Phineas' excitement and joy. Let's get out of this nasty place for god's sake."

Linda and Lawrence also exchanged upset glances, really feeling terrible to be breaking Phineas' innocent heart. Why is that 'roller coaster' displayed there? And the nerve of them to call that a roller coaster... What a lousy state fair.

While in the car on the way home, still feeling upset about depressing their sons, Linda and Lawrence then planned to be going to another place to continue to celebrate the first day of summer.

"Phineas and Ferb, darling..." Linda called to the backseat, "What do you say we go to somewhere else today? Your choice."

The depressed looks of the two boys slowly faded, as they were given a chance to go somewhere else. Phineas lightened up as he suggested, "What about a circus?"

A laugh from Lawrence was heard as he quickly turned the car. "It's Phineas who suggested it; to the circus it is!"

"Oh, come on!" Candace started her complaints again, glaring at her brothers. "The circus is worse than that roller coaster! Why would you go to an unpleasant-smelling circus anyway?"

Ferb smiled a little. "He probably wanted to see his long-time wish."

"And that is...?"

"I wanted to see the greatest act of the Danville Circus: monkeys juggling bicycles."

A deep silence then occurred inside the car.

"What the heck is that?" Candace glared deeply at her brothers, shaking her head in irritation. "Since when do 'monkeys juggling bicycles' considered an act? Since when do monkeys juggle bicycles?"

Phineas grinned. "I saw it in a TV commercial, they say it's a very rare and great circus act and I want to see it personally!"

Candace sighed, slapping her head. "Oh, please."

. . .

As soon as they arrived at the circus, Lawrence quickly paid for their entrance and quickly spotted a vacant seat. There's also a fair number of people around just like in the state fair, so it's not that crowded. Candace was beginning to get a hunch here.

As soon as everyone has seated, Candace suddenly dug her face over her arms and groaned, enough for Phineas and Ferb to hear.

"Puh-lease. Now you expect me to sit over here and watch elephants balance on balls? Somehow I prefer to just stay at home and babysit Perry."

Phineas chuckled from beside her. "That's the first time I've heard you actually wanted to be with Perry."

Candace gave a serious glare in which the two boys laughed.

After a few moments of silence and waiting, the lights finally dimmed and there the Ringmaster suddenly appeared on the wide court, welcoming them. Afterwards consecutive series of animals appear one by one, each performing their own circus acts, impressing everyone inside. It lasted for about a quarter of an hour while everyone took their breaks before the second act start.

Phineas suddenly started to frown after the first act, making Candace wonder.

"What's up?" Candace patted Phineas' shoulder. "What's with that face again? Aren't you enjoying the show?"

Phineas shrugged. "I-I don't know. I only wanted to see the rarest act in Danville... But why am I getting the feeling that I won't see it?"

"Hello, there's still the second act. It's not yet finished, you know."

Phineas turned his head away from his sister, thinking she's not helping at all. "I know, but..." Suddenly, a thought arouse from his head, making him very hopeful again. He starts to get up and drag Ferb away. "We'll just be going to the washroom!"

Linda and Lawrence agreed, each exchanging glances.

"Why are they excited about going to the washroom?" Lawrence asked.

"Why does he have to drag Ferb in just going to the washroom?" Linda asked.

Candace just rolled her eyes and dug under her arms again. "Oh, for crying out loud."

Phineas and Ferb, on the other hand, are obviously aren't going to the washroom, but at the circus' backstage. They wanted to meet with the Ringmaster themselves and ask if there'll be monkeys juggling bicycles.

"Oh, Mr. Ringmaster!" Phineas called out as soon as he saw the Ringmaster talking to some employee. The Ringmaster glanced at them and raised an eyebrow.

"What are two kids doing here? Didn't you see the sign 'Authorized Personnel Only' or you two just can't read?"

"Well," Phineas suddenly stopped, a bit surprised about this sudden attitude of the Ringmaster. "We did see the sign, but we insisted."

The Ringmaster just rolled his eyes and places his hands on his hips. "What do you want, then?"

"Sir, will there be a performance of monkeys juggling bicycles? Please, oh please?"

Silence suddenly occurred between the Ringmaster and the boys, with the Ringmaster staring deeply at them.

"No."

This very answer shocked Phineas a lot. "W-What?"

"There'll be no act like that in here."

"Why?"

The Ringmaster sighed for these kids to be too annoying. Anyway, he waved his arms at them and showed them the cage where their monkeys were kept.

"Our monkey trainers," the Ringmaster began his story, "all left for a much bigger job in other countries. Because of that, the acts involving monkeys strongly disappeared, so the rarest act in Danville wasn't seen since. We tried to hire other professional trainers, but no one was able to train them to do the rarest act... So we removed monkeys to the list of animals in our circus and these monkeys - " He pointed at the cage with the monkeys in a very sad state, " - were scheduled for bringing at the zoo and be kept there."

Phineas and Ferb's eyes were in definite wide... Trying to absorb the fact that there'll be no monkeys in their circus anymore. This can't be. Phineas was very much looking forward for this... First the roller coaster and then this? Won't he enjoy the summer as he's hoping to? Will he do what other lame kids do: watch TV all summer long, play boring board games, spend with their not-so-fun platypus pet, sit under their tree doing nothing (with Ferb sitting beside him)? NO, it can't be!

Phineas shook his head and grabbed Ferb's shoulders. "I won't let my first day of summer the lamest day of the season, and my summer season to be the lamest season of the year! Ferb, I think I know what we're going to do today." He then turned at the Ringmaster and prints a very motivated expression on his face. "Sir, I was really hoping to see the rarest act in the Danville circus, and I'm going to make sure I'll be able to. Allow us to train the monkeys."

A huge roar of laughter echoed at the four corners of the room, with the Ringmaster clutching his big belly as he wiped the 'tears of joy' in his eyes. He chuckled and laughed for two consecutive minutes, scaring the two boys a bit.

"Wait... Are you guys serious...?" The Ringmaster said between his laughs, unable to stop himself. "You? Train the monkeys? A triangle-head and Mr. Two Big Eyeballs? You guys made my day!"

"S-Sir," Phineas tried to laugh alongside him, not really knowing what the heck's funny. "We're serious."

The Ringmaster then stopped laughing and stared deeply at the two boys. "Maybe you don't understand. Aren't you listening at my story earlier? I told you that we tried to hire professional trainers but nobody's able to make my monkeys perform the rarest act! You think you kids could do it? Aren't you guys a little TOO young to be training monkeys?"

This question suddenly silenced Phineas. He and Ferb exchanged glances and he looks back at the Ringmaster, simply uttering the words. "W-We are?*"

(*note that this is really a question)

"OF COURSE! And since you two kids are KIDS, tell me you're just kidding yourselves and you really don't know how to train monkeys!"

"B-But sir, we actually - "

"Just get out of here!"

. . .

Candace then saw the sight of her two brothers in a very disappointed expression, both looking very hopeless. They sat beside her lame-like, digging their heads under their arms as well.

"Mom and dad went to buy snacks," Candace remarked. "But wait... Why do you guys look like you've been in a middle of a riot of a herd of rhinoceros?"

"Hey, Candace..." Phineas uttered, but loud enough for Candace to hear. "You always say that age doesn't matter. Does it, really?"

Candace's eyes widened, surprised for Phineas to be asking a question like that. "What?"

"You see... We asked the Ringmaster that we'll train the monkeys ourselves, but he told us that we're too young to be doing that."

"Look," Candace said, "I don't care about the second statement, but the first one... Age really doesn't matter, I tell you! So what if you're too young to be doing something? If you know you can do it, then don't let your age tear up your dreams. If a baby can be a president of the country, then there's no point to be arguing with it! In love, it's not impossible for a 14-year-old girl to fall in love with a 30-year-old man... As soon as they're really in love. Age is just composed of numbers, and it's created so a person will know about how many years they're living in this world... But I believe there's no value at all. Age restriction is indeed created, but if a kid can do something, it's definitely not needed! Remember, Phineas... Don't let your age tear up your dreams. Be proud of what you can do with your age. If somebody asked you again if you're too young to be doing something, then answer proudly, 'YES, YES WE ARE.' "

"Candace..." Phineas and Ferb gets teary-eyed with this speech of their sister, and motivation suddenly filled up their body again. They hugged their sister, and quickly left towards the backstage again. "We'll be right back!"

"W-Wait, where are you going?" Candace tried to follow them, but realized she needs to guard their seat, making her groan in furiousness again.

. . .

"YOU kids again?" The Ringmaster bellowed as soon as he saw the two boys standing in front of him again. "Didn't I tell you guys to leave?"

"Sir," Phineas panted, but a smirk emitted on his face. "We wanted to train the monkeys to juggle bicycles."

The Ringmaster slapped his head. "Like I SAID... Aren't you a little TOO young to be training monkeys?"

Phineas and Ferb smiled, and looked at the Ringmaster in great motivation. "Yes, yes we ARE."

The Ringmaster was left speechless as stared deeply at the two encouraged boys, and then suddenly gave a very wide smile. "Well, why didn't you say so? Go ahead so you could be able to perform for the second act."

Phineas and Ferb jumped joyfully, very happy that they're finally allowed to SHOW THE TALENT that they're hiding for a long time... And who knows that it's actually Candace who motivated them from the start.

"Age DOESN'T matter. It's just composed of numbers that verify the years of your living in this world."

- Candace Flynn

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Has anyone familiarize themselves about this chapter? About the phrase 'monkeys juggling bicycles', the idea actually came from this dialogue:

Linda: It seems we have this conversation before.

Candace: What do you mean?

Linda: I seem to recall you telling me that the boys were training monkeys to juggle bicycles. And when I come home, there was a stunning lack of monkeys.

Anyone familiar with this dialogue? It occurs at the first P&F episode, Rollercoaster. They say that the first day of summer was when Phineas and Ferb build that rollercoaster, but Linda mentioned something about the boys training monkeys before... So it's not really accurate that rollercoaster was the first day of summer, and that's where I GET THE IDEA of making this chapter.

As I've said, this chapter occurred the day before they build the rollercoaster, so please don't be confused. I know the question "Aren't you a little too young..." is answered "Yes, yes we are", but I decided to make it a chapter. ;)

CONTINUATION WILL BE IN THE NEXT CHAPTER!