Chapter 2: She's Returned
The glorious day that London enjoyed the day before was long forgotten, as the cherry blossoms were being forcefully pulled from their branches and blown about in every direction. The wind had picked up into a terrible force, and no on dared go outside for being knocked down by it. It rapped at the windows of Number 17, while Jane peered out at the park. It was not a menacing howl, but more of an urgent excitement. The sun still shone brightly despite the blustery afternoon, and Jane couldn't help but feel that maybe her plan was working. Michael noticed Jane staring out the window, watching the wind toss everything about in a flurry.
"You know what they say about a watched pot," he said with a smile.
"Oh hush," Jane tutted, waving her hand in the air at him as if she was waving off his sarcasm like an annoying insect.
"It could just be a very windy day you know," Michael said, not bothering to look at his sister while he was painting the model he had completed the day before.
"You know Michael, it sounds as if you don't want her to come back," Jane said hotly, turning from the window to stare at her brother.
"It's not that Jane," Michael sighed heavily, letting his guard down. He didn't want her to be upset with him. "I just don't want to be disappointed. And if I pretend that she won't come back, I won't be upset when she doesn't."
"Oh Michael, but how can you think that? Don't you feel excited? Listen to that!" she cried, gesturing at the window where gusts of wind played with the shutters. "You can't expect me to just dismiss that. Not even a breeze yesterday then a gust took our advertisement! And now today the wind has gone absolutely wild! I'm telling you Michael, she's on her way." Jane crossed her arms practically hugging herself and smiled out the window. Michael could only sigh.
Despite the sunshine, the citizens of London still daren't come out into the blustery wind. That is, all citizens of London but one. Clutching his hat to his head, Bert slowly made his way through the park against the force pressing upon him. He had packed up his chalk today, for the wind proved too difficult to work, and he wasn't going to be making any money with no one to look at his fine drawings anyway. After making his way to a decent park bench, he sat down and surveyed the blue sky above him. Bert found it rather odd that it should be so windy, but he noted that is was not terrible weather. A nest of birds in a tree above him chirped away excitedly, and the noise caused Bert to finally understand. That wasn't any old conversation they were having about twigs. No, something else was happening. He clutched his hat tight, leapt up off the bench, and began scanning the skies. A beautiful day such as this with such an amazing amount of wind was no coincidence, and Bert finally knew what the wind was trying to tell all of London. Mary was making her way home, and she must have been traveling as quickly as she could. He absolutely beamed at the thought.
London looked absolutely splendid sprawling out beneath her feet, and the smile on Mary's face was so big that her cheeks were nearly beginning to hurt. She clutched her carpetbag tight and held on with all her might to her parrot-head handle umbrella. As she came nearer to her destination, the parrot squawked up.
"You know I don't think I've ever seen you this happy about a new assignment Mary Poppins!"
"No, I don't suppose you have," Mary replied, trying to keep her smile in check but failing to do so.
"You've really missed London," the parrot hinted.
"Absolutely. It's been quite some time," she answered, her smile fading as she caught on to her umbrella's line of questioning.
"It may not be them Mary Poppins," the parrot hinted once more.
"How could it possibly be anyone else?" Mary asked, giving the parrot one of her best stares.
"Well, why would the wind send you back to a family you've already helped?"
"I don't know," she replied honestly. "But there has to be a good reason for my return, and honestly I'm just thankful the wind is letting me help."
"It may not be them."
"It has to be them. And if not, we're about to find out who it truly was," Mary said as she felt the wind begin to direct her down so that she may begin lowering into the city.
Jane was still fidgeting at the window when all of a sudden the wind picked up into a fierce gale, cherry tree blossoms blew about the lane as if it was snowing, and Jane tried to see outside but found they were too thick to see much of anything. A large bang came from the front door, and Jane nearly jumped out of her skin in surprise and excitement. Michael's head shot up from his work to stare at his sister. They wore matching expressions of wonder until they heard the bell ring, just as the roaring wind outside had suddenly disappeared and all of London was still. Both of them broke into enormous smiles.
Mary was making sure her hair was in place, and focusing on wiping the rest of her smile off of her face to maintain at least some air of dignity and professionalism. Just because it's them it doesn't mean you get to be less than practically perfect. After all, everything could have gone wrong since you left, Mary chided herself as she waited for the door to Number 17 to open. Mary was expecting Mrs. Brill to answer, but when the door opened up she found herself looking at a woman with gorgeous golden hair perfectly pinned up wearing a beautifully fitted but modest-looking dress. Mary was slightly caught off-guard at the sight.
"Mary Poppins!" Mrs. Banks cried delightedly. She wanted badly to hug the nanny, but checked herself, thinking that the best people probably didn't do such a thing. Mary gave the woman a warm and genuine smile, a flood of memories entering her mind as she stepped over the threshold of Number 17.
"Hello mum," Mary replied, almost breathlessly. The house hadn't changed too much, and the sight of it affected Mary more than she thought it would. She turned to Mrs. Banks, taking in her appearance again. She looked radiant, though she did seem a bit more worn, with more lines on her face, but with the air of a confident and wise woman. It suited her.
"I have to say Mary Poppins, I can't believe you've returned," Mrs. Banks said, also taking in the woman before her. If it was even possible, Mary hadn't changed one bit since she was last in her employment. Mrs. Banks wasn't really surprised, but it was a little strange to see the exact same woman she knew from nearly 10 years ago. It also made her a bit jealous. She's still the closest thing I've seen to perfection, and after all this time, Mrs. Banks thought.
"To be completely honest with you mum, I can't believe it either," Mary replied sincerely as she set down her bag and laid her umbrella reverently on top of it.
"Please, call me Winnifred. You've more than earned that right," Mrs. Banks smiled at the amazing woman before her, her smile meaning so much to Mary. It was a silent thank you for how much her life had changed thanks to the magical nanny. Mary now wondered why she had returned. It didn't appear that this was the broken home she fixed so many years ago. Her pondering was cut short, for in that moment Mary could sense someone on the stair landing, and she looked up in interest. Standing before her was Jane Banks, tall and gorgeous; a brilliant young woman. Michael followed suit behind her, a long and gangly young man who wasn't quite sure of himself yet. All three stopped to look at each other, each holding their breath for a moment.
Jane broke the spell by whispering, "Mary Poppins!" Suddenly she was making her way down the stairs as fast as she could manage and stopping just short of her former nanny. "I knew you'd return," she cried happily before taking the woman before her into a heartfelt hug. Mary was absolutely shocked, but after she felt Jane squeeze her tight she found herself putting her arms around the young woman, who was probably just as tall as she was now. She allowed herself a second before she pulled away and held Jane at arm's length.
"Let me get a good look at you," Mary said with a smile. "Hmmm."
"Not as well turned out as you'd like?" Jane asked, her face glowing as she recited an old statement of Mary's.
"Quite the opposite young lady," Mary smiled. She stepped to the side of Jane to get a better look at Michael.
"And who is this young man? Certianly not Michael Banks."
"It's nice to see you again Mary Poppins," Michael said quietly, scuffing his shoe on the floor. He still couldn't quite believe she had come back.
"You too Michael," Mary said with a smile, noting the shy sensitivity that had developed in Michael. It was rather endearing. After taking in the sight of the Banks children she hadn't seen in so long, she turned to Mrs. Banks, puzzled. "I'm afraid I'm a little confused now."
"About what?" Jane asked, standing beside her mother. The resemblance was almost uncanny now that Jane had grown up.
"It seems to me that you all have been getting along fine without me. I trust Mr. Banks is currently at the bank, and doing well?" Mary asked.
"Oh yes," Mrs. Banks replied. "Things have been going well it's just that recently, well, we've all become very busy, which is fine-" Mrs. Banks stopped as a high-pitched shriek came from the nursery, followed by uproarious laughter. Mrs. Banks sighed and her shoulders dropped. Michael rolled his eyes, and Jane put a hand to forehead in the hopes of fending off the headache she knew was coming. Mary watched the mood of the room shift as she tried to place the noise from above. Suddenly recognition crept into Mary's eyes and she looked at Mrs. Banks with one eyebrow raised in question and astonishment.
"You had more?" she asked, amazed.
"I'm afraid so," Mrs. Banks replied with a wan smile. "Come on, let me introduce you to the twins."
"Twins!" Mary exclaimed in surprise and delight. "Now everything is beginning to make sense," she smiled and winked at Jane as she passed her to follow Mrs. Banks up the stairs to the nursery, elegantly riding the railing as Jane and Michael watched with glee and with their mother none the wiser.
"She's returned," Jane sighed happily. Mary Poppins had certainly returned to Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane.
