Matchmaker Matchmaker
Notes: Ironically this is a Mary Poppins fanfiction which happens to share the same title as a song from Fiddler On The Roof. Set 5 years after the events of the musical. Jane is now 15 and through a conversation with Bert discovers her inclination has been correct all along that he has feelings for Mary Poppins. She also develops her own love interest along the way. I only own Kenneth William Dewitt, all else is owned by Disney/P.L. Travers.
Jane Banks thought often about Mary Poppins. She was now 15 and growing into a beautiful young woman but never forgot any of the lessons she learned from her childhood nanny. That one important lesson she remembered was " Anything can happen if you let it." She always secretly held out hope that Bert and Mary Poppins would end up together but was beginning to wonder if that wish would ever come true. Her mother had other thoughts on her mind and that was to match her daughter up with one of the young teenage boys from her theatre troupe.
One afternoon while she was doing her homework her mother tapped on the bedroom door.
"Darling, there's an audition coming up next week. There's a part for you in the show that would be absolutely perfect for you. Won't you give the audition a try?"
Knowing that there was an ulterior motive Jane rolled her eyes. "There's a boy you want me to meet isn't there Mother?"
Winifred's face fell. " Of course not. I just wanted you to try something new. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you got the part and we performed on stage together?"
Jane felt a small smile cross her lips. "I suppose that would be delightful Mother. When is the audition?"
"Wednesday at 6pm."
Jane sighed. " I suppose it couldn't hurt to try."
Winifred kissed her daughter on the head. "Wonderful. Don't be nervous at all. You'll be just fine… Or as Mary Poppins would say practically perfect."
But of course Jane couldn't help but be nervous. It was her first audition after all. As soon as she filed out her audition paperwork she took her seat in the waiting room her anxiety hit a high were several people in line ahead of her. Her mother was off mingling with some of the other adults who were also trying out.
" What's your number?" She heard some one ask.
" Excuse me?" Her eyes met with a pair of blue eyes that she thought were gorgeous.
"Your number,at the top of your audition form?"
Jane looked embarrassed. "Oh, sorry. I am so new at this I didn't know what you were talking about. 29, What's yours?"
"32. You're going into the audition room in my group then. Great."
Jane breathed a sigh of relief. "Splendid, I won't feel so alone in there. Is this your first audition too?"
The stranger shook his head. "Nope, this is my 5th time auditioning. My dad got me into doing plays here two years ago. I'm Kenny Dewitt. Who're you?"
"I'm Jane Banks."
Kenny grinned. " Father is good friends with your mother. I've heard so much about you."
Jane extended her hand. "Nice to meet you Kenny. I'm pretty nervous."
"I'm sure you'll do fine. If we both get in I'll help you learn the dances and your lines."
Jane's tense shoulders began to relax."You are so sweet. Thank you.
"No problem."
The audition didn't go as badly as Jane had anticipated it would. In the car on the way home her mother patted her shoulder. "How do you think it went?"
Jane shrugged. "Ok, I guess. I met this boy named Kenny. He seems real nice. Hopefully we both get in. He offered to help with my lines and dancing if that happens. "
Winifred's eyes lit up. "Wonderful!"
"When will the cast list be posted Mother?"
" By Friday night or Saturday morning. Our first rehearsal will be Sunday afternoon at 1:00."
Jane slept late on Saturday morning totally forgetting the cast list was going to be posted. She had every intention of going with her mother but she did not like having to get up early on a Saturday morning.
"Jane, rise and shine darling. I have wonderful news. " her mother called up the stairs.
Jane rolled over to look at her alarm clock and noticed it was nearly 11:00. She pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and hurried to the top of the stairs. "What is it Mother?"
Winifred grinned. "You were cast in the ensemble."
Jane was floored. "You've got to be kidding me."
"No, not all. I couldn't be be happier for you my love."
Jane ran down the stairs and into her mother's arms.
"This is so exciting Mother!"
Winifred kissed her daughter on the forehead. "This will be a wonderful experience for both of us."
The first thing that Jane did upon hearing this news was run down to the park to tell her friend Bert. As usual he was drawing pictures on the side walk.
" Bert, you'll never believe my news!"
Bert smiled at the teenager. " I bet you I will. What is it?"
Jane's grin was a mile wide.. "I auditioned for a play at mother's theatre and I got a part!"
Bert wrapped Jane into a hug. " I'm mighty proud of you Jane. I am sure that Mary Poppins would be too."
Jane's eyed glowed at the mention of her former nanny's name. "Do you think she'd come to the show?"
"I would hope she would. She loves you & your brother very much."
Jane looked shyly at the ground.
"Bert, is it okay if I ask a personal a question?"
Bert nodded slowly "What is it love?".
Jane cleared her throat.
"Are you in love with Mary Poppins?"
Bert blushed. ." Jane Banks, you are quite intuitive. Yes, in fact I am in love with Mary Poppins. I have been for awhile actually."
"Ever since that day in the park when the statues came to life and started dancing?"
Bert nodded. " Yes, since that very day."
"Is she in love with you too?"
Bert shrugged." She hasn't stayed around here long enough to tell me, but yes I am assuming that she does have feelings for me."
The wheels were turning in Jane's head. She absolutely needed to find a way to bring Mary Poppins back to London to try to get her to confess her feelings to Bert but how?
Two weeks passed. Jane couldn't be happier that she was in the play with her mother and found herself having a wonderful time,she would also soon discover that she was falling fast for her co-star Kenny Dewitt.
"Hey Jane, do you want to come over sometime to practice the choreography?" Kenny asked her one Sunday as rehearsal was ending.
Jane nodded. " Sure Kenny,that would be great. What time works for you? Mother can probably drop me off."
Kenny shrugged. " I have to check my schedule. Father has your number somewhere so I will give you a call."
"Jolly good.I'll look forward to hearing from you." Jane smiled as she bent down to finish packing her dance bag.
That evening after dinner the phone rang. Jane picked up because she was expecting a call from Kenny.
"Hey Jane, does Wednesday afternoon around 4:00 work? Father said you can stay for dinner if you want to."
" I need to check with Mother. Can you hold on a moment?"
"Of course."
Jane walked into the parlor and noticed her mother was reading the newspaper. "Mother, Kenny invited me over on Wednesday to practice our choreography and stay for dinner. Is that alright?"
Winifred smiled. "Of course. I can drop you off at the Dewitt's house at 3:30."
"Great!"
She returned to the phone. "Mother said she'd drop me off at 3:30."
"Jolly good, see you then." The line with dead.
On Wednesday afternoon Winifred dropped Jane off at the Dewitt's house. Kenny's father Henry answered the door. "Come on in Jane, Ken's waiting for you!"
After Jane kissed her good bye Winifred smiled at Henry. " Isn't it splendid to see how well they are getting along?"
Henry nodded. "They've certainly become fast friends. It's great to see them having so much fun together."
"Do you think…..?" Winifred let her sentence ramble.
Henry kissed Winifred's cheek. " Let things happen naturally Win. They're very young you know. Let them discover love for themselves. I'll drop Jane home after dinner."
At dinner Mrs. Dewitt smiled at Jane. " How are you enjoying being in the play Jane?"
Jane swallowed a bite of mashed potatoes. " I was reluctant to audition at first but now I am so happy that Mother suggested it. I am having so much fun!"
Kenny smiled. " I've introduced her to my other friends and she fits right in with the rest of us Mother."
Mrs. Dewitt's smile grew wider. "I am so glad to hear that! Isn't that wonderful Henry?"
Mr. Dewitt's eyes gleamed. "We're excited to have you in the cast Jane. I'm delighted that you're having such a great time. How's your choreography coming along Kenny?"
Kenny smiled."Some of the steps are rather challenging but it's nothing we can't Jane?"
Jane nodded. "Definitely."
Later that evening Jane knocked on her brother's door.
"Michael, we need to come up with a plan."
Michael looked up from his science homework curiously. "What do you mean?"
Jane's eyes lit up. "Bert is in love with Mary Poppins. He told me himself! We need to find a way to get Mary Poppins to admit her feelings for him."
"How do you suppose we do that? We haven't seen her in four years and have no way to get in touch with her."
" I was thinking we could write her a note and tear it up and send up through the fire place ."
"What do you propose we say Jane? Bert is madly in love with you, please come back to London?"
"Actually I really want her to come see my show. We'll figure the rest out later."
Michael's face suddenly lit up. "Can we get the other chimney sweeps to help us out?"
Jane grinned. " They know Bert pretty well so they know what he likes."
The next morning at breakfast Jane looked at her mother. "Mother, do you suppose Mary Poppins will come to see the show?"
Winifred shrugged. "That would be splendid Jane. How would we get in touch with her though? We don't even know where she lives to send her any information."
"Bert might know. If he dosen't why not write a note and tear it up like what happened with that nanny advertisement that bought her to us in the first place."
"It's worth a shot."
"Mother, what's a good first date location?" Michael asked.
George Banks raised his eyebrows. " You're too young to be asking that Michael."
"Oh, it's not for me. It's for Bert & Mary Poppins."
"Bert and Mary Poppins, what on earth are you talking about?" Winifred looked at both of her children skeptically.
Jane's eyes gleamed with excitement. " Bert is in love with Mary Poppins Mother,just like I suspected all along! We want them to go out on a date so that way Bert can find out if the feelings are mutual."
"How are you going to set that up without Mary Poppins knowing?"
"We haven't gotten that far ahead but we're hoping the other chimney sweeps will help us out with putting something together for them. That's why I am really hoping we can get Mary Poppins back here to come to the show."
Winifred's eyes glowed delightedly. " If Mary Poppins and Bert were to marry that would be fabulous. We would see her much more often that way. Isn't this wonderful news George?"
"I suppose." George said.
Additional Notes:Stay tuned for chapter 2. You'll meet some of Bert's chimney sweep Friebds and see what ideas they will suggest to Michael & Jane.
