Chapter 3
She made her decision; she would go speak to him. If only she could be sure that he felt the same way….
Checking herself in the mirror once more, she descended slowly with talking umbrella in tow toward his lonely figure in the park.
Bert suddenly sensed something in the air. No, he thought, it couldn't be. He turned around, "Hello Bert."
"Mary! You – you're back so soon," he stammered.
"Yes. I, uh, I was wondering if I might talk to you." She looked uncomfortable.
"Certainly, Mary. Is anything wrong?"
"No! Oh, no. Everything's perfectly alright." A light rain began to sprinkle about them. "It's just that, well, do you think me a bit…uptight at times? Unfeeling? Cold?" She looked inquisitively at him. "Because, er, I sometimes feel that way, you see," she added hastily.
"Cold? Unfeeling? Why Mary, what makes you say that?"
"Well, I always float from family to family and I, um, never really talk or meet with anyone. It's always children, whom I adore of course, but…I start to think I don't know how to laugh anymore. Well," she looked sheepish, "except…except with you, I suppose." Her brow furrowed and she turned aside, "It's always 'Spit spot!' and 'Don't slouch!' I feel as though I'm forever giving orders."
Bert felt slightly confused. Why was she telling him all this? Surely not because she was, well, confessing, sort of, was it? How oddly she's acting, thought Bert, not like the Mary I know so well. Mary Poppins is always composed, never stammering, for she didn't approve of poor enunciation, you see.
It began raining harder, but neither of them seemed to mind much.
"Oh Bert, I…I just feel so...confused," she finished in a whisper. She turned, facing him, "What am I going to do? I can't possibly look after family after family for the rest of my life. I think I'd go insane!" She stepped closer. "What sort of person do you think I am, Bert?"
Bert looked taken aback. "Wh – what sort of person? Why Mary, you're the loveliest of ladies, and I mean that. I'm always happy and smiling when I'm around you. But I still don't understand your question," he ended lamely, scratching his head.
"No Bert, that's not what I mean." She sighed and stepped even closer. "Do you find me…a bronze statue? Or perhaps pure and white like marble. Yes, a marble statue. Lovely to look at and be with but cold and heartless. Oh I don't mean to say that I haven't got a heart, I mean look at what I do for a living," she said laughingly. "But, don't you think me almost inhuman? A pure goddess who's, I hate to say it but, somehow above this world? Practically perfect, that's me isn't it? No, I'm not a woman, I'm a goddess. And men are half in love with me and half terrified of me. Well, isn't that right?" she said bitterly.
"What! Half terrified? Now look Mary, I've maintained my distance from you but that wasn't out of fear any more than out of respect." Bert started to feel a little annoyed. Who was she to tell him how he felt about her? If only she knew…. Certainly he kept his distance but that was never out of fear! The thought of it, hah! Bert almost wanted to laugh.
"Alright, then prove it!" she screamed at him. "Prove that you're not terrified of me! That you think me a living, breathing human being! Prove it to me, Bert!"
"Prove it? Well, what do you want me to do? You want me to prove that I'm not afraid of you? Shall we have a duel in the middle of Central Park? Why, the very thought is laughable, Mary Poppins! I don't have to prove anything to you!
They barely noticed that they were both half drenched. She stood there unflinchingly, staring at him, barely five inches away.
"Bert, if you don't do something in the next five seconds, I shall be obligated to slap you with all the strength I can muster."
"Alright Mary, I'll prove it to you. I'll…I'll…" He seized her shoulders, pulled her to him and kissed her hard on the mouth. Instantly she melted into his arms, her own circling his neck as she returned the kiss fervently. After what seemed an eternity, they broke apart.
"Thank you, Bert," she breathed softly onto his lips, "I love you dearly."
"And I love you, Mary. Are you satisfied now? Living, breathing, and feeling now are we?"
"Yes Bert, very much so."