April 16th 1912
Bert was on his knees in his usual place outside of Cherry Tree Park drawing his usual sidewalk art. It was a normal day for the residents of the surrounding community. Miss Lark was out walking Andrew; Mrs. Corey was on her way to the shop with her two daughters. Everything was a normal. Bert finished off his last drawing and looked up, suddenly no one was in sight. He knew what that meant. Standing up he looked toward the eastern sky. Sure enough there she was. She came to a perfect landing just a few steps away.
"Well hello there" Bert said in his usual charming voice.
"Bert" She said with a lip quivering "Something terrible has happened"
Bert's smile fell from his face. Mary Poppins lip never quivered. Something was terribly wrong. Mary held a newspaper out.
He took the paper and read the headline "Titanic sinks – all feared dead!" Bert looked up confused about what this had to do with him, and then it dawned on him. The Bank's, they were on holiday, taking the Titanic to America. "Were Jane and Michael with them?"
"I-I-I don't" it was all she could say before collapsing into a heap. Bert rushed over and caught her before she hit the ground.
"Sshh, my love sshh, we will go find out. Mary, it's okay my love." Bert consoled, not caring about how improper it was to call her pet names. She really loved the children that she was a nanny to two years ago. He had seen them on and off again since but never spoke with them. He just watched as they flew a kite in the park with their father or went shopping with their mother.
Bert pulled Mary's face up and looked into her crystal blue eyes. He saw every drop of fear and pain she was feeling. All he wanted to do was take it all away. He kissed her on her nose and helped her stand. Taking his handkerchief out of his pocket he dabbed her eyes. She took a deep breath and suddenly she was back to her normal self, fully composed and ready to take on anything. Bert took her hand and led her down the street to Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane. Ringing the doorbell they waited. Soon a maid came and opened the door.
"Can I help you?" She asked
"We are looking for Jane and Michael Banks please." Mary said in her usual prim and proper manner.
"I'm sorry, they aren't here" the maid replied. Mary's heart sank. That means they had to be on the ship. A tear Mary couldn't hold back slipped out and rolled down her cheek. The look of sheer terror in Mary's eyes took the maid back. "Is there something wrong?" she queried.
Bert handed her the newspaper that Mary had given him before. The maid looked at it and promptly fainted. Bert and Mary looked at each other and back at the maid who was now lying on the floor. Bert sighed and bent to pick up the poor woman but the hand on his shoulder stopped him. "Let me." Mary said simply. The woman began to float across the ground and was placed on a chair in the Bank's drawing room.
Once inside the home, the memories of her time there came flooding back to Mary. She lingered at the banister remembering the many times she slid up and down it with Jane and Michael.
Bert came over to her and wrapped his arms around her. She sobbed into his chest and he stroked her long hair. He hated to see her like this, he prayed for some guidance to help.
"Isn't there any bit of magic that you can do to find out if they are ok?" He asked trying to grasp straws that weren't there.
Mary looked up at him, her blue eyes showing sparks of hope. "Yes, Yes! Why didn't I think of it before! Bert, you're a genius!" Surprisingly Mary kissed him on the lips. It was a brief but passionate kiss. Bert was taken aback at the sudden show of affection; it was the first in fifteen years! He stood there dumbfounded; Mary grabbed his hand and led him out of the house. "Come on, we need to get to the river."