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Stacy first realized it at Candace’s combination graduation-birthday party. She had known for three years now, about the secret life of the Flynn-Fletcher pet, Perry. She had kept the secret the entire time. But, with how many times she's gone to their house for sleepovers, or movie marathons, or to see whatever Candace’s brothers, Phineas and Ferb, were doing; with all those times, she hardly ever heard the phrase: “Where’s Perry?”
It was a daily occurrence during the Summer of the Rollercoaster, as they named it. The platypus would go missing once a day. It was (almost) never concerning. He always came back home eventually.
Stacy herself had learned the truth around the end of summer. Perry let her know (via a pamphlet), that she would have to have her mind erased. She devised a loophole, with the excuse that she didn’t want to rewatch the horror movie she had been watching. But, in reality, she just wanted to keep the knowledge of Perry’s identity. The poor guy probably needed more people who could sympathize with him, anyways.
She knew she could keep a secret when she wanted to. And she wanted to.
And so, Stacy found herself sitting at the dinner table at the Flynn-Fletcher home, balloons and streamers all over, a big cake in the middle of the table and everyone mingling as they waited for dinner to finish cooking; and she was looking inquisitively at the platypus in the corner of the dining room, on his little bed.
She hadn’t heard the words, “Where’s Perry?” in a while. Perry was staying home most of the time. Stacy supposed the monotreme was getting on in years, platypuses lived about as long as dogs, and Perry was about 8 years old.
A secret agent platypus has to retire sometime.
She was glad, at least, that Phineas and Ferb got to spend more time with their best friend.
She realized she had been looking at Perry for a bit too long when he cracked open his eyes, focused directly on her. She kept looking him in the eyes. She motioned under the table for Perry to follow her, and she moved to the living room and sat on the sofa. Most everyone had left the living room now that it was almost time to eat.
Following her instructions, Perry waddled over a few moments later, and hopped onto the sofa, sitting right next to her. He was comfortable with her; at least, she gathered as much from his behavior.
She looked around as discreetly as she could, scoping out the area, before speaking. She placed a hand on his head.
“Are you retired now?” she asked.
The platypus moved his head up a little.
They had devised it a couple years back. She would place a hand on his head, as though she were petting him, and ask a yes-or-no question. He would lift his head, as though he were just leaning into the touch, for yes, and he would move his head to the side for “no.” It wasn't the most efficient form of communication. Sometimes, they could talk to each other, with Perry writing his responses. But that was only when most of the family was out of the house - especially the boys.
In response to Stacy’s question, Perry moved his head up into her hand a bit.
“Can they know now?”
His head moved to the side.
She sighed. She just pet Perry more because she could. But food was about to be served, judging by the wave of beautiful aroma coming from the kitchen.
One last question. “Can we talk about it later?”
There was a pause before he moved.
And he moved his head up into her hand once more.
She smiled.