Education

Legs swinging wildly back and forth. Soft sighs, irritable and forlorn. Mary stared down at the pencil on her desk, thinking that she should pick it up. But she didn't. Usually, she was such a good girl, but today, she had decided that she was in a Bad Mood. And she had also Given Up.

Hands shoved under her thighs, she sat there, refusing to finish her French lesson. She did not have a tutor- only on Thursdays, as she was often a Very Good Girl and would do as she's told. But not today. No, Mary felt this day was different.

She could somehow feel it, as if the wind was whispering her name.

"I think I shall have this day off," she decided.

It had not been agreed to by her parents, but she thought she was old enough now to decide for herself.

Peering out of the window, she saw a boy trimming the shrubbery outside. Mary had never seen him before, scrutinising the dirt on his face and the way his dark hair stood up in all directions. She wondered how he got so dirty. So dishevelled.

Forever inquisitive, she decided to ask him.

An hour later, a shrill voice shouted at her from the back door of the house.

"Mary Poppins, why I never!"

Mary halted, breathless, her cheeks a flaming red. Her white dress was caked in mud, her raven hair streaming from its ribbons. Beside her, the boy gulped, wringing his hands.

"We were playing cowboys, Mother!" she cried back.

"Get in this house at once! We are not a family of chimpanzees. And Herbert Alfred, I hope you have finished trimming my roses."

Little Herbert Alfred nodded, quickly. "Yes, ma'am. I 'ave."

Mary stomped back to the house, her boots thudding on the grass louder than was considered polite. She peered over her shoulder when reaching the patio, waving enthusiastically at the bright-eyed boy.

"Goodbye, Bert! I shall see you next Tuesday."

Her mother pulled her inside. "I think not, young lady."

Bert remained where he stood, staring at the spot where the girl had disappeared. Grinning, he picked up his cap from the ground and placed it atop the mass of curls.

"G'bye, Miss Mary."