Mary Poppins 2010

[Wiseman]

chapter 6

Chapter 6​

A few moments later, the vehicle and its passengers arrived at a rather ostentatious home on the outskirts of Queens in an area known as Bayside. Miss Poppins, Burt and the eldest living member of the once grand Banks family stepped off and strode up to the place.
Miss Poppins pushed in the doorbell with the point of her umbrella and waited. Presently the door opened and a young lady of about 30 stepped out.
“Yes," said the woman, “May I help you?"
“Are you Mrs. Martha Banks, wife of Howard Banks, and mother to young William and Sarah Banks?" asked Mary Poppins.
“Yes, I am, have my children caused you any trouble madam?" said the woman a little exasperated at having to deal with what she thought was to be yet another complaint.
“Well, not to me in particular," said Miss Poppins, “but I hear they have caused a bit of a ruckus to various other ladies and gentlemen who have been put in charge of their care and upbringing.”
“Yes, but what concern is that of yours, — ” her voice trailed off here as she suddenly noticed her husband’s great-aunt at the bottom of the front stairs.
“Aunt Jane, when did they let you out?" she said, incredulously, “and who are these two people, are they friends of yours? I don’t remember seeing them the last time Howard and I visited the home.”
“My dear lady," said Miss Poppins, “I can assure you that we are not residents of Miss Banks’s nursing home or of any other for that matter, my friend Burt and I are quite capable of handling ourselves despite our somewhat advanced years.”
“Burt," said Mrs. Banks, she looked at the elderly English gentleman standing next to her husband’s great-aunt, “But if he’s Burt then you must be — ” she stopped again in disbelief.
“Go ahead, say it," said Mary Poppins, “say my name.”
“But Howard and I thought the old stories about you and Burt were delusions, why if you’re her then — ”
“If I’m whom?" said Mary.
“Mary Poppins, of course," said Martha Banks.
“That’s correct," said Miss Poppins, “I am Mary Poppins onetime nanny to your children’s great-great aunt and their great-grandfather, and it appears that I shall have the pleasure of helping out this generation of the Banks family too.”
Martha stood there with her mouth open, trying to take in all the information that had just superimposed itself upon her own preconceived notions about her husband’s elderly relative and her rather fantastical nanny and her equally unbelievable friend.
“Mrs. Banks, you are not a codfish, you may not be related to your grandfather-in-law Michael, but your mouth is wide open just like his was 100 years ago, kindly close it” said Mary.
Martha obediently snapped her jaws together and stood aside, “Come inside, I’ll fetch Howard and we’ll decide what to make of your proposition," she said.
She watched as Mary and Burt assisted her husband’s great-aunt in rising from her chair and ascending the seven steps leading up to the front door. Then she went down the stairs and carried Jane’s empty wheelchair into the house.
After all the guests were seated in the living room, Martha went to get Howard from another room in the house.
“If my great-aunt’s stories about Mary Poppins are true then I’m a dancing penguin waiter," said Howard as he approached the living room with his wife.
“I’ll fetch a tuxedo for you then sir," said Burt, rising to shake hands with him.
Howard looked at his great-aunt and at the aged couple in front of him and said, “If you are Mary Poppins, and Burt, my great-aunt’s nanny and her friend, then, kindly tell me what you are doing here and where you have been these past 100 years.”
Burt spoke first, he reached into his pocket and produced two military medals, “I fought in both World War I and World War II, as for my more recent activities I have been employed in various professions somewhat similar to the ones that I used perform back in my youth in old England.”
“I have been taking care of various children” said Mary, “and now I am pleased to be back in the home of the family of my former employers George and Winifred Banks.”
“Well, Miss Poppins, my great-grandfather and great-grandmother are long dead," said Howard, “and if you are the nanny that they employed for their children then you are of far too advanced an age to consider handling their descendants.”
“Mr. Banks," said Mary, “I have not yet announced any intention of becoming a nanny to your children. However, if I do choose to take on the aforementioned job, I can assure that I would be more than capable of doing it.”
“But you must be over 100 years of age," said Howard.
“Why must my age be constantly referred to by everyone I meet, as if I were a bygone relic from a forgotten era? I am not a phonograph or a manual typewriter I am a person and I assure you I am more than capable of adapting myself to this modern world," said Mary Poppins.
“Well I am in need of a new nanny," said Howard, realizing that he was being interviewed by a prospective employee rather than the other way around. “But before I consider hiring you I would have to see if you are indeed capable of doing the job regardless of your age. Based on what my great-aunt told me of when you were interviewed by her father, I trust the only references you have are the two people who have accompanied you to my home," he indicated Jane and Burt, “and your mention of my great-grandfather.”
“That would be correct," said Mary.
“I understand you gave him the honor of having a trial run," said Howard.
“Yes, I did, and he did extremely well," said Mary.
“Well," said Howard, “I am not my great-grandfather; however, I believe I can accommodate you in a similar manner provided that you agree to the following terms. I will have you for one month — ”
“Six months,"Mary interrupted.
“If I am not satisfied at the end of that period," Howard went on, as if he had not heard Miss Poppins’ interruption, “I will dispatch you without severance pay — ”
“With severance pay," interrupted Mary again.
“and you will not again attempt to employ yourself as my nanny or in any other capacity for me again," continued Mr. Banks.
“Very good," said Mary, “now, I would like to see the children.”
“Yes," said Howard, he turned to Martha, “Would you please fetch the children.”
“I would rather see them in their rooms," said Miss Poppins.
“Of course," said Howard, “They are just upstairs, William’s room is on the left and Sarah’s room is on the right.”
“Thank you," said Mary, and she mounted the bottom of the banister and slid right up to the top just like she had done 100 years ago.

 

[Wiseman]

Here come the Muppets

You've all been asking when they were going to arrive if ever and indeed that's all I've been hearing from every commentator to this thread "Where are the muppets?" sort of similar to the old Wendy's commercial line "Where's the beef?" Well at long last here is the first appearance by a muppet character. To be exact it is Link Hogthrob

Chapter 7​

​

After arriving at the top of the stairs and dismounting Mary decided to see young William’s room first.
She opened the door and emerged into a chaotic mess of a room belonging to an 11-year old boy. Toys of various kinds were strewn all over the floor. A few of which were obviously from the boy’s younger years suggesting that the boy never threw anything out.
In the middle of the mess was William laid out on a bed reading an overly violent comic book while eating cookies by the handful right out of the box. From the appearance of the bed, it would appear that the boy was on his 10th box of cookies and his eleventh comic book.
The boy looked up from his reading (if indeed gazing at a comic book can be considered reading) and noticed the elderly lady who had invaded his sanctuary of grit and grime.
“Who are you, and what are you doing in my room, you old bag?” said William.
Miss Poppins did not answer, but instead placed her famous carpetbag on the bed and fished around in it for something. Presently she produced a measuring tape and placed it on the bed.
“Stand up, young William Banks,” commanded Mary.
Seeing no immediate threat from the elderly invader William complied with this simple request and stood up.
Mary stretched out her tape and measured the boy. “Hmm, just as I suspected. ‘Somewhat sloppy, a bit of a pack rat, and very surly to his elders,’” said Mary Poppins reading from the tape.
“Sarah, I think we might have a new nanny on our hands,” said William at the top of his lungs upon realizing how his univited guest had immediately summed him up.
Presently, a young girl appeared in the room. The girl was about 11 years old, but was dressed in attire befitting a girl of about four years older than herself and one of questionable morals.
“It would appear that our parents are scraping the bottom of the barrel,” said Sarah, gazing at Mary.
“If your judging of my qualifications as a nanny is based solely upon my advanced chronological assets, then I am inclined to assume that you have a similar attitude towards your elders as does your brother, however, rather than judging for myself let’s see what my measuring tape reveals,” said Mary. She brought the tape over to the girl and unrolled it.
“Hmm, ‘doesn’t know her place, very nasty, and inclined to rebel against all authority,’” read Mary.
“Now, see here, old lady, I demand to know who you are,” said Sarah.
“Very well, then you shall,” she unrolled the tape to its full length and measured herself. “Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way,” she read.
“Mary Poppins,” said William, “but we thought she was a delusion dreamed up by our eccentric elderly aunt.”
Mary shook her head, “Very well, it appears a demonstration is in order,” she looked at a piggy bank that stood on a bookshelf amidst the jumbled array of possessions and snapped her fingers.
“This room is atrocious,” said the bank in a somewhat vain-sounding voice, “it is not even befitting for a member of my own kind.”
“It appears that you are correct, Link,” said Mary. She looked at the boy, “Satisfied?” she asked.
William looked at the suddenly anthropomorphicized and animated porcine money container, and said “I suppose you want me to clean up.”
“I most certainly do,” said the pig.
“I was talking to Mary Poppins,” said William.
“I also would like you to clean up,” said Mary.
“And if I refuse,” said William.
“Then I shall,” said Mary, and so saying she proceeded to bring the rest of the room’s formerly inanimate denizens to life and watched them march around the room and organize themselves into their appropriate places about the room.
William’s eyes grew wider and wider as he continued to observe the somewhat unlikely phenomena presenting itself before him. William became even more amazed when his wastebasket acquired a life of its own and proceeded to devour all of the empty cookie boxes on his bed and all the other trash in his room in a rather noisy fashion reminiscent of Cookie Monster from Sesame Street.
“Now then, do you believe that I am the aforementioned Mary Poppins?” said Mary as the toys began to change back into toys.
“Yes, it would appear that you are,” said William, suddenly turning extremely polite.
“Very well, then,” said Miss Poppins “Now then, if you and your sister would be so kind as to show me to my room we can get started on making some necessary changes around here.”
“Well, you won’t have to clean up my room like that Mary,” said Sarah, ”unlike my brother I keep my things very neat, I take great pride in my appearance.”
“Yes, it appears that you do,” said Mary gazing at the young lady’s unladylike attire.
“We’re gonna have to watch this one,” said William, “she’s tricky.” He turned to Mary. “Follow me,” he said and led her down the hall to a room adjacent to his own.
Mary looked around the sparsely furnished room and then placed her bag on a table and proceeded to unpack her things. Among the things she removed from the bag were a large hat stand, a good-sized free-standing lamp, an ironing board, an iron, apair of shoes, a sewing kit, and an apron.
“There, that’s better,” she said, arranging these things around the room. “Now then, missy,” she said addressing Sarah, “let’s see just how neat that room of yours really is.”
She marched into Sarah’s room and looked around.
Sarah’s room was indeed neat and orderly, but on the walls were many posters of all male rock bands with the members bare-chested standing in very provocative poses.
“Well, it appears your room is indeed clean, still it would appear some changes are in order, but time enough for those things later,” she said.
“What do you mean?” asked Sarah.
“Well,” said Mary, “suppose I presented to you a glass whose outside was spotless and clean, but the inside was all nasty and dirty with mold growing on the bottom of it, would you want to drink from that glass?”
“No, but my brother wouldn’t mind,” said Sarah.
“If I were to do what I want to do to this room without addressing its resident first, it would be like that glass,” said Mary. She pulled two chairs and indicated that the young people should sit on them.
“Now then, according to your great-great-aunt Jane, all former attempts to educate you two children have met with a uniform lack of success,” said Mary.
“Yes,” confirmed William. “In fact, no school will take us,”
“Oh is that so,” said Miss Poppins. “I know of a school that will take you children, but you may not like it.”
“Mary, our father even petitioned the local public school once and was declined,” said Sarah, “so what makes you think that the school you are speaking of will take us.”
“Why don’t you come with me to the school and find out?” said Mary.
William and Sarah were a little apprehensive but intrigued and quickly prepared themselves to go on the outing in question.

 

[Wiseman]

Chapter 8

Due to a small but necessary computer repair I had to take a break from the creating of this story, however, I now am ready to continue from where I left off.

Chapter 8​

Presently the children and their elderly escort arrived downstairs.

“Well, Miss Poppins, how did you find the children?” asked Mr. Banks

“It wasn’t that hard, I opened the doors to their rooms and there they were.” said Miss Poppins. “And I see that you are getting reacquainted with your great-aunt Jane and having an interesting conversation with my friend Burt.”

“Yes, we are,” admitted Mr. Banks, “however, it appears that you are ready to take the children somewhere, but before you go there is one thing that I forgot to ask you about earlier.”

“And what is that?” asked Miss Poppins.

“Based on your accent, age, and my great-aunt’s stories you are not a native of the United States, so do you have any citizenship papers or work permits?” asked Mr. Banks.

“As a matter of fact, yes,” said Miss Poppins, “I have dual citizenship as you can see.” she produced some papers from her bag.

“Yes, I see,” said Mr. Banks, “and where exactly are you taking the children. I hope you are not popping into a chalk picture or flying up a chimney or anything of that sort?”

“Good heavens no,” said Miss Poppins. “We are going to check out a school that I know of that is operated by an old friend of mine. I trust you have the children’s records.”

“Yes, but what makes you think that this school will take them, no other school has?” said Mr. Banks, getting the records from a drawer in a desk.

“Oh I am sure that Ms. Boom will be glad to take these two children under her wing.”

“Ms. Boom?” said, Mrs. Banks, she looked at her husband’s aunt, “Would she happen to be of any relation to the Admiral Boom that you once spoke of as having been a neighbor of yours?”

“I don’t know, is she Mary?” said Jane.

“Yes, she is,” said Miss Poppins, “she is the great-granddaughter of the late Admiral Boom.

“Uh, I believe there are two greats there, Mary,” said Burt.

Miss Poppins thought for a moment and then said, “Why yes, Burt, you are correct, the great-great-granddaughter of Admiral Boom.

“I didn’t even know Admiral Boom was married,” said Jane.

“Well he was already a widower by the time you were born my dear, in fact, his wife died in childbirth, he brought up his son himself with the help of his former first mate Mr. Binnacle.” said Miss Poppins. “Anyway, his son George grew up moved to the states and raised a family, and now several generations later his descendant is a school principal here in Queens.”

“Well, Miss Poppins,” said Mr. Banks, “If this school takes the children, I would like to make arrangements to visit it on my next day off.”

“I think that would be a very good idea.” said Miss Poppins, “but as for now, it is best that I make the arrangements.”

“And I better be getting back to my corner,” said Burt, looking outside, “Why it’s sunny enough out there that I think a large crowd will have already gathered in the park.”

“Aunt Jane,” said Mr. Banks, “Would you like for me to drive you back to the nursing home?”

“Yes, thank you,” said Jane, and together the six of them left the building leaving Mrs. Banks all alone in her house.

While Burt and the two older Banks headed to their respective destinations, Miss Poppins led the children on a roundabout trip through various areas of Queens, at first it appeared to the children that the old lady had forgotten the location of the school in question, but presently it began to appear that there was indeed a definite destination to their excursion.

Soon on a strange street the trio came upon a rather large building which had been fashioned to look somewhat like a medieval castle and painted in rainbow colors. It stood out very prominently from all the other plain gray, boxlike buildings on the block.

“Aaah here we are,” said Miss Poppins, looking up at a name carved into the mantel above the door. “Sarah Boom’s School for Young Ladies and Gentlemen. Well children, shall we go in?”

The children looked up at the imposing structure before them. At first they were a little shocked that they had never seen nor heard of this place before, but then young William spoke, “As long as no kings or queens come out I suppose we shall.”

And so, the three people approached the door of the castle.

 

[Wiseman]

Chapter 9

Chapter 9​

After showing some I.D. to the security guard at the door, they proceeded to the main office.

“Good day ma’am” said Miss Poppins to the lady at the desk.

“Good day,” replied the lady

“I have two children who I would like to enroll in your school.” said Miss Poppins

The lady looked up from her desk and gave the Banks children the once over.

“I see, and what are the names of these children?” said the lady.

“William and Sarah Banks,” announced Miss Poppins.

“Banks?” said the lady. “I had a feeling their parents might be trying here eventually.”

“I see their reputation has preceded them,” said Miss Poppins.

“Yes, it has Mrs. Banks,” said the lady, “and if you think I am going to let those two destroy the reputation of Sarah Boom’s School, you are sadly mistaken,”

“And if you think that I am Mrs. Banks, you are even more sadly mistaken,” said Miss Poppins. “I am Mary Poppins, a personal friend of your employer’s great-great-grandfather the late Admiral Boom.”

The woman looked at a picture of Admiral Boom that hung on the wall to her left. She then looked at Mary, “I see, well, in that case, I think I should speak with Ms. Boom herself about this. I trust the children’s papers are in order.”

“They are,” said Mary, she gave them to the woman, “Good, you will wait here,” said the woman, “In the meantime, I suggest the children peruse the rules of this school, in the event that Ms. Boom does choose to allow them in, they would do well to obey them.” she placed two rather large volumes on the counter. “I suggest for now they familiarize themselves with the dress code, if they are admitted we can work on making sure that they obey the rest of them as we endeavor to discover and appeal to their better natures.” she then turned left and walked into an adjoining office marked Sarah Boom, Principal.

“Do you think they’ll allow us in” said Sarah, after the woman had gone in.

“Probably,” said Mary.

“Well, if they do, I don’t intend to go,” said William.

“I on the other hand am willing to give them a try,” said Sarah.

“You know best,” said Mary.

“Why?” said William. “You’ve always played hooky before.”

“Well,” said Sarah, “if this woman at her advanced age is willing to come here all the way from England to help our parents out, and if this school is willing to give us a try based on her recommendation and in spite of our reputations. The least we can do is give them a fair chance.”

Mary smiled at Sarah and said, “Well said, young lady, with that attitude the school will have more than a fair chance of cleaning the inside of the glass that I mentioned before.”

Presently the lady emerged from Ms. Boom’s office.

“Principal Boom, will see all three if you now,” said the woman, holding open the door and beckoning them in.