Jane and Michael were tasked with a very important job. They were asked to go to the shops to buy some milk. Now, this may not seem that big of a deal, but since they were old enough now, they no longer needed a nanny, and this was their first task on their own. They had to pass the park but they weren’t allowed to stop and play. If they did, they would be in big trouble.
Trying to ignore all the kids playing happily, they walked on until they saw a man drawing pictures on the path ahead. They had never seen the man before, and no one had ever drawn pictures on the floor either. When they got closer, they saw the painting was of a fair with lots of children playing.
"Do you like my drawing?" asked the stranger.
"Oh yes, very much." answered Jane enthusiastically.
"Would you like to visit it?" the stranger sounded very serious.
"It does look like fun," Michael replied hesitantly. "is it a real place?"
"It is." the stranger leant in closer. "Do you want to know a secret?"
Jane was eager to know what this intriguing man had to say, whereas Michael wanted to leave this strange stranger, as he didn't have a good feeling.
"This drawing is magic," he whispered, "all you have to do is wish yourself there and jump right in, and the best part is times stops so you can stay there forever if you wish."
Immediately Jane's eye snapped shut as she grabbed her brother's hand, ready to jump. Michael pulled her back. "Who are you?" He asked the strange man.
"Forgive me. My name's Bert." Bert bowed to the children just as Jane jumped on the drawing, pulling Michael with her.
Bert whistled an unknown tune as the children vanished into the painting. He looked around, to find no one was near him. He continued whistling as he poured water, and the image the children disappeared into started to blur as he scrubbed the pavement clean.
Jane jumped up only to see that they were indeed inside the painting that Bert had drawn. She looked up, but all she could see was a blue sky. She was so excited that she spun in circles before running off to the carousel, her favourite ride. The one that stuck out the most to her was a beautiful pink horse. Without waiting for the ride to stop, she jumped up as the horse came around again and hoped she could ride it forever.
Michael slowly looked up as he sat up too. Unfortunately, Bert never told them how they could get out of the picture, and as he watched, the sky began to waver. He just wanted to go home. He swung his head around, trying to find Jane, but she was nowhere to be seen. Then, his eyes caught sight of a carousel and just knew Jane would be there. Walking over, he saw Jane on one of the horses looking like she was having the time of her life.
Leaving Jane to her fun, Michael went in search of a way out. After searching all over, he concluded that there was no easy way out. Magic got them in here, and magic would get them out, but neither Jane nor Michael had any magic, so they were stuck. Looking around again, Michael noticed that they had everything they needed. There were magic food stalls dotted around, where you only had to ask for something, and it would appear. Drink stalls that do the same and hotels. It was a prison in disguise.
Michael sat on a bench and wished for someone to save them.
Bert was in another town, drawing the same picture that Jane and Michael jumped into. Finishing the drawing, he moved on to another one. He was distracted enough that he didn't see the young woman approach. Suddenly he was grabbed, and he felt himself falling. He knew who it was, the woman he’s been doing all this for.
It was only because Michael was looking up at the sky that he saw them fall. Then, thinking that they were more children, he ran to where he thought they were. He only realised his mistake when he saw two adults lying on the ground. Hesitating, he didn't know what to do until he got a look at the woman.
"Mary Poppins!" Michael shouted as he ran to help her. "Are you ok?" Then, helping her up, he looked her over to make sure she wasn't hurt.
"I'm fine, Michael," Mary dusted herself off as she stood up. "What were you thinking, jumping into his picture? You could have gotten hurt.”
Michael was so happy to see his and Jane’s nanny. She was a kind but firm woman that had helped them a lot growing up. Then, turning to the man with her, thinking it was a friend of Mary Poppins, Michael was shocked to see Bert.
"You!" Michael shouted. He couldn't believe his eyes. The man that caused all of this was in the picture as well.
Bert completely ignored Michael as he turned to Mary Poppins. "I knew you would come eventually," Bert said happily, "I knew you couldn't ignore over 100 children going missing."
Michael was shocked that Bert had taken so many children. But then he thought about what Bert had said about time stopping. If time did stop, then how could he have gotten so many kids.
"Bert, you fool," Mary Poppins snapped "do you even realise what you've done? How many lives you've destroyed?"
Not looking the least bit worried, Bert ran over to her and grabbed her in a hug. "I only care about you."
Mary Poppins pushed him off of her, "you need to release all of the children and hand yourself over to the council."
"Don't worry, Mary. They will go back to the exact time and place they left." Bert told Mary, seeking her approval, which it looked like she was begrudgingly giving. "I just want you to give me another chance." he pleaded.
Mary grabbed Michael’s hand and headed off to the carousel, not answering Bert's heartfelt plea. Michael didn't know what to say to Mary Poppins. He knew she was upset with them, but then he didn't want to come to this place anyway.
"Go and grab Jane so you can go home."
Not waiting a second more, Michael ran and grabbed Janes hand. "Wait, Michael. I don't want to leave yet." Jane whined and snatched her hand back.
"Mary Poppins is here." Michael snapped at her. He didn't have the patience to deal with her bratiness. She may be older than him, but she didn't act like it most of the time.
Jane paled as she stammered out a "what?"
"Yes, so move it, will you."
Jane jumped off the horse like it was on fire when she caught sight of Mary Poppins. Then, not waiting for Michael, she ran over to her.
As soon as Michael reached them, he felt the world twist and turn, making him feel sick. He opened his eyes, not knowing he had closed them to see they were back in the park.
"Come on, Michael, we need to get to the shop. Stop daydreaming." Jane laughed as she ran off ahead. Michael shook his head and ran off after her.
Later that night, Michael sat on his bed, confused. Jane didn't seem to remember anything that happened. If the magic was supposed to make them forget, how come he remembered?
"Are you ok, Michael?" Michael jumped at the soft words and saw Mary Poppins sitting on the foot of his bed.
"Am I going crazy?" Michael couldn't help but ask.
"No. You don't have to worry, though; The council is dealing with Bert."
Michael thought about Bert's words to Mary. "He did all of that so that you would come after him, so that he could ask for another chance. He must love you a lot."
Mary sighed. "Yes, Bert does love me in his own weird way." She looked to be contemplating her own words.
"Maybe you should give him another chance? Maybe he could make you happy?" It came out as a question instead of the statement he meant.
She looked surprised he would say that. "you're a very kind-hearted boy Michael. Now go to sleep and forget this all happened."
Mary looked over Michael as he slept, thinking on his words. "yes." she said into the quiet room, "maybe I will give him another chance."
With one last look at Michael, she walked to the window and vanished.
Michael had forgotten all about Bert and his magic picture the following day, only remembering a vague dream of telling Mary Poppins to find her happiness.
The End
