No one's lookin'
London, England, 1910
When Bert came back to the East End after a long day of making music in Regent's Park, he went straight to his favorite pub, which served a reasonably priced plate of hot eel pie and mash. He washed it all down with a pint of beer. Mary Poppins didn't come visit him that day, but Bert wasn't worried-she always made her way to him. He saved some of his earnings for the day to take Mary Poppins out for a humble tea.
Bert's pal Eamon sat down at the bar with him and Bert greeted him with enthusiasm. "'Ello there, Eamon! How've you been?"
"Oh, getting by, getting by...You know what it's like as a chimney sweep. I'm afraid I've got some sad news though." Eamon's face darkened and Bert set his pint down. "You know how Henry was sick for a while because of consumption? He passed today."
"That's terrible!" The mist that brought in his beloved Mary Poppins might have been a killing dampness for his friend, Bert realized.
"Terrible indeed," Eamon sighed. "He left behind his wife and a little tyke, so some of the sweeps are trying to put together a fund to support his widow while she looks for a job. Are you able to contribute?"
"Of course!" Bert dug out the shillings he was going to use to take Mary Poppins out for tea and handed them over to Eamon. Henry taught Bert everything he knew about sweeping chimneys-it was the least Bert could do for him.
"I'm sure the lass will appreciate it," Eamon said, dropping the coins into a cloth bag. "Take care, Bert."
Bert finished up his pint and then ran over to the cathedral to pray for Henry and his family. Yet another soul claimed by the abyss. It was unsettling how Bert got used to death. In the East End, friends dropped like flies, poverty making the string that connected a person to life fragile and easily broken. No safety nets caught them.
"Why, God? Why is it always hungry?" Bert muttered in prayer.
The next day, Bert decided to be a screever, hoping that the pretty pictures would, as Mary Poppins said once about beauty, move some pall away from his dark spirit. Though Bert got used to the constant presence of death in his life, it didn't mean that losing friends was ever easy.
After stopping by the cathedral for his daily chat with the Lord, he headed to his corner of Regent's Park and drew scenes from his childhood, hoping that they would catch a special someone's eye. Sure enough, a familiar shadow stepped into the frame he was working on.
"Wait! Don't move. Don't move a muscle. Stay right where you are. I'd know that silhouette anywhere! Mary Poppins!"
"It's nice to see you again, Bert," Mary Poppins said, glowing. She really did look happy to see him, and it was just the spoonful of sugar he needed. Bert was introduced to her latest charges, Jane and Michael Banks, who he saw running after a kite the other day. He was not surprised Mary Poppins popped into their lives.
"Mary Poppins is taking us to the park," Jane told him. The park? Bert almost snorted and proceeded to poke a bit at Mary Poppins' buttons. He showed the children his drawings, which were all places Mary Poppins took him to. He gave her a little secret wink with each picture. Jane, who already seemed to demonstrate good taste, chose his picture of the countryside near the Lakes for their outing. Before long, he and the children were goading Mary Poppins into taking them there.
"Now's the time, Mary Poppins. No one's lookin'," Bert said to her. With those words, Bert knew he got her hooked into it. After a little more goading, they jumped in the picture, landing in clouds of chalk and magic.
Bert's heart skipped a beat. The white lace dress with red ribbons. "Mary Poppins, you look beautiful!"
"Do you really think so?" she asked, like she didn't know, but of course she did.
Still, Bert assured her, "Cross my heart you do. Like the day I met ya." The children ran off to the fair and Bert had Mary Poppins all to himself for a little bit. He sang, "Ain't it a glorious day?/ Right as a morning in May!/ I feel like I could fly…"
"How 'bout some tea and cakes, Mary?" Bert asked after they strolled awhile.
"That sounds lovely," she said, taking his hand. Bert's heart pumped like the brass band from all those years ago.
They found a shady spot to eat lunch and to Bert's relief, the waiter said there would be no bill for the food.
After they ordered, Bert held out his hand to Mary Poppins. May I have this dance? "No one's lookin'," he whispered. A small smile blossomed for her. Only her.
She nodded and took his hand. "Alright. A short dance."
They twirled together under the shade of willow trees. An agonizing, perfect bliss settled on Bert like the fluttering warmth of sunshine.
As if talking in his sleep, Bert muttered, "Mary, I feel so grand, so happy."
Bert felt her tense. "But?"
"That's just the thing, there is no but. No buts!" Bert giggled.
"Bert, stop your twittering!"
He just grinned more and met her eyes so she knew the words he was about to say were not from a place of anger. "I think it's beautiful what you do, Mary, coming into childrens' lives and bringing them magic and happy endings and all. But if I've learned anything over the years it is that resolution is short lived. Life's a rum go! It goes on beyond the happy endings you bring about. It undoes and rewrites them."
"I know that!"
"I know you do, I was sayin' that for me. It's what you taught me, what you keep teaching me. I get a happy ending every time Mary Poppins comes into my life. I missed you, Mary."
She went quiet for a bit. "Oh, Bert…" she squeezed his hand. "I missed you too."
Bert kissed her hand and led her back to the table for tea. He cherished every moment of this happy ending. The abyss always undid him, but Bert swam towards Mary Poppins' light. Whether the light was unto death or life, Bert did not know.