Piano Duet

24th December 1912

It was an icy winter day on that 24th December in 1912. But Mary Poppins and her best friend, the jack of all trades Bert Alfred, couldn't be dissuaded from spending the nanny's free Tuesday together.
But it wasn't just any free Tuesday - No, it was Christmas Eve. The two friends spent it together for the fifth time in a row and each year they did something different.

That year they went to the nearby park. First they were in one of Bert's pavement drawings and then they walked for a while before deciding to go to his flat to warm up a little and maybe have a „'ot cuppa tea", like Bert used to say.

Bert's flat was on the ground floor of a building with countless other flats. It was neither too big nor too small, neither too light nor too dark - it was just perfect for him. He hadn't lived there very long; just a few weeks, which is why a lot was still improvised and unfinished. Many of his things, especially his paintings, were still in the basement, waiting to be brought to the actual flat and to get finished there.
But despite everything, it was just very comfortable.

While the two Londoners were drinking tea, they talked about all the beautiful things that had happened that year and looked back over the day.
But they skillfully avoided one topic: Mary's upcoming departure. The nanny in particular tried to avoid this topic because she knew exactly how much it hurt Bert when she left him.

Bert didn't deserve this, and she didn't deserve him. She kept flying away, not showing up for months. And he? He always was like a loyal dog and always waited for her at your their personal place: the park.
But Mary always came to him as soon as possible; when she was in London on duty or when she was between families. She couldn't help it: she absolutely had to see him!
For years she thought that these were only platonic feelings she had for Bert - but lately she wasn't so sure anymore. Whenever she saw him, she blushed, her heart began to beat faster and a warm feeling spread across stomach. But she would never confess her feelings to him. The fear that she might ruin this oh so wonderful friendship was too big.

The whole time she was in her thoughts - of course she didn't let it show. Only when there was a pleasant silence while drinking tea her thoughts wander further than before. Further than they should...
What if he had feelings for her, too? After all, according to the parrot at her umbrella, he always looked at her as if she were a goddess.
But then again, Mary knew too well that the parrot interpreted a lot into everything.
Bert was also a charmer who always complimented everyone he knew.
Questions after questions were buzzing around in her head and she had to be careful that Bert did not suspect anything.

"Would ya like t' help me choose one o' the paintings from the basement? I don't know which one I should finish next."

His soft voice pulled Mary out of her thoughts.

„With pleasure."

He put his cup on the table and a slight but warm smile appeared on Bert's face. He stood up and offered her his hand. When Mary put her small, soft hand in his big, rough one and she had to smile too. Still, she was careful not to tremble from the gentle touch. Oh, how much she wished he'd never let go of her hand again.

So he accompanied her to the door and opened it so energetically that both of them danced lightly; almost turning a pirouette into the hallway.
At that moment they felt more like teenagers than adults.
But both enjoyed this feeling of lightheartedness.
When they were together, they could be themselves.

Laughing, they went into the basement and Bert lit a candle so they could see something.
"The paintings are in the rearmost compartment. Follow me," he said, and went first so Mary knew where to go.