Despite of the title of this story, refer to a movie about the making off of the first Mary Poppins, the story you´re about to read, regards the secound movie, not the first; therefore, the ''MR BANKS'' in question, is Michael, not his father.
The story itself takes place after the secound movie, starting right after the baloon scene.
Hope you like it.
Please, enjoy.
SAVING MR. BANKS – Part 1
After a lovely day at the park, the Banks family returned home, with balloons and smiles on their faces. After all, they managed to get their house back, Michael was now happier than ever and even Jane seems in the seventh heaven, as she found someone to love in the lamplighter Jack Foster.
As they entered the house, they spotted Mary Poppins sitting in one of the armchairs, sewing an old sock when they approach.
''oh, Mary Poppins, I thought you had joined us at the park'' Michael frowned. He could have sworn that she had gone with them.
''oh no, I didn´t, walk in the park, isn´t my pleasure'' she smiled politely ''besides, this house was a mess, it needs me more than a walk at the park''
''so you´re staying?'' George asked hopefully.
''why I would leave now?'' she looked the children from up to down ''now, after a walk in the park, I believe you three need a bath'' the nanny frowned ''upstairs you go, huh? Hurry, spitspot!'' she ordered, and the three Banks children rush upstairs.
When the nanny was about to leave, Michael placed a hand on her shoulder ''thank you for being here, Mary Poppins'' he smiled
''no please'' she dismissed the gratitude in a politely ''thank me later, I'm just doing my job'' she said and walk upstairs.
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For the days that followed and a bit for the children disappointment, Mary Poppins stayed with them, but as a regular nanny, walking with them to the park, teaching them school stuff, telling bedtime stories and other things regular nannies did, without a trace of magic. It was like the Mary they had met two weeks early, was another person.
One night, as they have dinner, John placed his hands on his head, a bit embarrassed, as he remembered something.
''we need to retrieve the bowl, from Mary Poppins cousin'' he announced and both Annabelle and George looked at him.
''what?'' Michael looked at his kids with a confuse stare
''we´re sorry father'' Annabelle started ''we broke Mother´s bowl…we wanted to sell it to give you money and keep the house, but we broke it'' she said.
For a second, the three children thought their father would scold them for breaking saying bowl, still to their surprise; Michael just wrinkled his nose and furrow his eyebrows, before start talking normally.
''first of all'' he said you shouldn´t have been playing with that bowl or even sending it to be fixed without telling me, much less selling it'' he said and the children look down.
''we´re sorry Father'' George said quietly.
''well, what its done, it´s done, but i want you to retrieve the bowl back at once'' said the father, walking toward the kitchen, to order the nanny to join them in the parlor, once she did, he talked to her. ''Mary Poppins, please, take the children to your cousin´s fix shop tomorrow first thing in the morning, I want they to retrieve their mother´s Royal Dolton Bowl. Here the money for the fix''
''Sir, it´s no need…'' she started.
''I insist'' Michael said again.
''very well Sir'' Mary Poppins nodded ''come along, children, it´s time to get ready for bed''
''Father, you read us a bedtime story?'' John asked
''of course'' the father agreed ''go on, I will be there in one hour'' he said as the children rush upstairs after their nanny.
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The morning following started busy before Admiral Boon´s second cannon exploded; Michael got late for work and barely could say good morning to his children before rush out the house. After breakfast Jane passed by her brother´s house to say hi to her nephews and niece and as usual, Ellen was making a mess in the kitchen, if Mary Poppins hadn´t decided to help her cleaning.
Meanwhile, at the street, Jack was finishing turning off the last lamp of Cherry Tree Lane, when a voice called him from above.
''prepared for the coming storm, sailor?''
''what storm, Sir?'' Jack asked the old admiral
''a mighty storm approaches starboard, sailor, be careful'' he replies.
''I will, Sir'' Jack saluted him and make his way toward number, 17, as Jane left the house. After a quick kiss, he asked her if she knew something about a storm and when she said no, Jack only conclude the old admiral could be losing his mind.
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Just after lunch time then and after the school lessons of the day, Mary Poppins took the children back to Topsy´s store, in order to
get the bowl and for some reason the three children realized their nanny was a bit worry; she denied it of course as soon as they reach the store.
''what a mess!'' Mary Poppins exclaimed as they entered the store ''I believe you even had time to fix the bowl, right dear cousin?'' she teased her cousin
''oh, on the contrary, cousin Mary'' she reach to the lower shelf and pick up a package and placed on Mary´s hand, not noticing the slight paleness on her face. ''here it is, children, your bowl all fixed up...'' said the old woman ''and here my advice, children, don´t listen to Mary Poppins, she just speak nonsense''
''alright, it´s enough, children, off we go'' the nanny said and left before getting too annoyed.
On their way back home, the children decided to stop by the park to fly their new kite, that weekend, Michael had helped them build a new kite and John and George couldn´t wait to put it to fly. One hour late then, Mary Poppins suggested they could have an ice cream, since it was warm and probably Michael wouldn´t mind, since it was early for dinner, of course, the children agreed and they make their way to the parlor.
''oh, hello Marry Poppins, hello children!'' a voice called behind them.
''Inspector Drew, what a pleasure to see you again'' the nanny smiled ''I suppose you already met Michael Banks children´s, John, Annabelle and George''
''I have already seen them walking around. How are you doing, children?'' he asked, when he spots the bowl beside them ''oh, I see you have a Royal Dolton bowl. I have one just like this'' said the Inspector.
''what a coincidence'' Mary agreed ''now, we need to get going, it´s getting late and we don´t want to have your father scolding us for getting late again.'' She said paying for the ice cream as the children say goodbye to Mr. Drew ''off we go!'' she said and they go away.
Just when they reach the number 17 of the Cherry Tree Lane, that George realized that they had forgotten the bowl at the ice
cream parlor and wanted to get back there.
''what a shame George, the parlor is probably closed right now, we need to wait till tomorrow'' said Mary Poppins
''but we have to go now!'' he exclaimed, when the nanny hold his hand firmly
''no reason to walk back to the park at this late, we wait till tomorrow to get the bowl, i´m sure your father won´t mind!''
''she´s right Georgie'' Annabelle told him
''come on, let's go inside before Father arrive'' John said as they walk inside the house.
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Two hours later, back on the street, Michael decided to take a long route back home, he was missing his wife, so he decided to buy some flowers and pass by the cemetery to visit her before going home, when suddenly, passing by the park, he saw a light coming from the ice cream parlor and voices coming from inside. It happened that, without him knowing, the wolf and the badger that once kidnapped his children at the Royal Dolton Music Hall, had left the bowl in search of revenge.
''who is there!'' Michael exclaimed ''I will call the police!'' he shouted and before he could do anything, the ice cream parlor opened and the wolf and his gang grab his arms and take him with them back to the bowl.