The Park Day

 

THE PARK DAY

Annabel walked through a park near Cherry Tree Lane reading over her shopping list. She also pondered whether the money Michael Banks, her father, gave was enough for all the needs.

"Father didn't give us enough money, did he? What can we do?" she asked her twin brother, John Banks.

"Well, not nearly enough with that money," John responded bluntly.

"Why not see if you can get a discount for yesterday's bread? That's what mother used to do?"

The youngest child,

Georgie, brightened as he saw Miss Lark, the wealthy neighbor, strolling through the park.

"Hello, Miss Lark" greeted Georgie.

"Oh...hello, Georgie."

"Georgie! Come on, hurry up. There really just isn't enough time in the day to do that." John screamed out while standing some distance away.

Georgie noticed a balloon lady in the park. "Can we buy a balloon for me?" he asked

"Oh, no Georgie." answered Annabel. "We don't have enough for groceries."

The park keeper suddenly appeared and called to Georgie, "Hey, Georgie Banks... Keep off the grass. I have spent the whole day caring for the grass and I don't want anyone tramples my grass and ruin my whole days work. Get out of there!"

 Georgie sighed reluctantly because he actually would rather walk on the green grass than on the path.

John turned to Annabel, "What if Father loses the house?"

"We'll figure out a way how to get the house back." replied Annabel shortly.

Far above the clouds, a kite swung up and hit the shoulder and then the hat of a man who was sitting reading on a park bench. The man didn't react, he kept reading his book as though nothing had happened.

Georgie who was walking behind his brother and sister suddenly saw the kite tumbled past him. Without thinking twice, he immediately chased after it.

"Georgie... Georgie...." John and Annabel started after Georgie, but the park keeper saw them and yelled, "Keep off the grass!"

"But, our brother......"

"I said keep off the grass. Can you hear me?"

 A gust of wind sent the kite over the hedge. Georgie crossed the grass field and went into the bushes. He scrambled through the bushes into the open field. His clothes were covered in mud. Georgie chased towards the kite. The kite was leaning against a stone bridge as if it were waiting for him. Georgie took the kite, pulled out the spool of the string and tried to fly the kite into the air.

 Suddenly clouds gathered and roiled, the wind blew violently dragging Georgie off his feet as the kite soared up into the sky and through the clouds.

 "Help...help..." Annabel and John heard Georgie asking for help. The twins hopped onto the grass, rushed across the field and scrambled through the bushes. "We're coming, Georgie." said Annabel in fear.

 At the same time, Jack, the streetlamp lighter of the Cherry Tree Lane passed by on his bicycle. When he saw Georgie was carried by the wind, he stopped and hurried to rescue Georgie.

 "Hold on... Georgie!" Jack managed to grab Georgie, and with all his might, he brought him crashing to the floor. Afterward, both began to pull on the kite string with all their might.

 All at once, the sky got calm, the clouds parted and a figure of a beautiful woman dressed in a long coat, scarf and eccentric hat appeared.

 Jack gasped, "That must be Mary Poppins!". His mouth was open as he looked at the figure.

 Mary Poppins landed and she addressed Georgie, "You should be very careful when the wind rises. You nearly lost your kite."

 Just in time, the twins came. They had seen the last five minutes when Mary Poppins landed on the ground. "And you too, Annabel and John, you nearly lost Georgie. He might have gone away forever if I hadn't held the end of the string. My goodness, what have you done with your clothes, twins? There is so much mud your clothes, twins on your clothes."

"How do you know our names?" asked Annabel in an unpleasant tone.

Jack with a beaming face said, "Of course. Because she is Mary Poppins! Mary Poppins, may I say that you have always looked beautiful from then until now?" "Do you think so? Nice to meet you, Jack."

"Good to see you too, Mary Poppins."

"Children, when I was at your age, I met Mary Poppins for the first time. I was working as a chimney sweeper at the time."

Jack handed the kite to Georgie.

"Well, I have to talk to your father. You need a nanny immediately." Mary Poppins told them in no clear terms.

 Mary Poppins marched off with Georgie at her side. She carried her carpetbag in one hand and has a parrot headed umbrella tucked under her arm. Annabel and John followed her with a puzzled glance. Jack picked up his bike off the ground and rode it following behind them.