- Chapter 1 - Ludgate Park, London. 1881

Being an orphan, in London wasn’t nice. It was a loud, cold, moldy, muddy city covered with filth. It was Dangerous to walk about in poor shoes on a good day.

Homeless people lived in every alley, they begged for change, or got day work in work yards. They all huddled together for warmth at night.

And there were rats. Big rats from deep in the sewers. Smart rats that would stare at you until you got up and ran away.

They were a constant menace to restaurateurs, and warehouses. They were known to gnaw on you in your sleep up there in the alleys.

London was a beast, and it still is, but nowadays it’s more civilized. There are fewer dark corners for the monsters and magic to hide.

But there were places to go, safe places for orphan boys of a certain age.

Ludgate Park looked the same then as it did now. A group of boys could shoot marbles or throw jacks on fine days…

-

Albert, Tim, and Jimmy were playing in the park. They were shooting marbles because it was a fine day. They only had 5 marbles but that was a fortune to them.

Jimmy was winning but he was known to cheat, and Albert and Tim let him win since he was a poor loser.

“Hah ha!” Jimmy cheered. “I win again!”

“Yeah yeah. Set them up again.” Bert said coolly.

The three boys played in the shade of the park’s central square. Near one of the statues the park was home to.

“Oh how wonderful.” A portly boy cheered as he and his governess passed close to the game.

The boy was dressed like a private school kid, that went to live in a boarding house. He had stark black hair parted down the middle like an old man. He practically marched in front of the stern looking governess.

He was carrying a basket with a loaf of bread, a fist of cheese and some apples. And he was carrying three large schoolbooks.

Here to have a picnic eh?

“Free lunch walking boys.” Jimmy said quietly.

“Look Look! They are playing Marbles! Oh might we stop and enjoy a game madam?” The boy asked.

Why’s he asking her? They are our marbles?

“You most certainly may not Master Banks.” She barked at him and tugged him closer to keep him away from the three boys and their game.“You will get dirty. We are here to practice your letters."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Yes Madam." Young Mr. Banks said solemnly.

She slapped his hand.

“Watch your tone young Master." She growled. "They are dirty and unrefined, lazy, sluggish gutter boys. You are a Banks, act like one.”

Well what’s up her butt?

Tim and Jimmy scowled at the governess but she turned up her nose at them and they marched on.

“See if she can turn up her nose with a black eye.” Jimmy grumbled and cast about for a stone to throw a her.

“Nope, nope, nope. Just sit and play some more Jimmy.” Bert said before the hot headed boy got up to find a stone.

“I’m done with this game, you guys suck at marbles.” Jimmy said and stood up to stretch.

Tim nodded in agreement and picked up the marbles. He placed his treasure in a patched pouch and stuffed it into his pocket.

Jimmy punched Bert in the shoulder and took off running in the other direction.

“Tag, Bert’s it, like a sour tit!” He cackled as he jumped over a hedge.

“That does it!” Bert shouted.

I ain’t no sour tit!

The three boys tumbled and fell through the flowers in the park. Bert got a couple good wallops in on Jimmy but he wouldn’t take back his words. It was all good fun until a constable blew his whistle and they scattered.

They met up behind the gazebo where a large bush made a natural hideout.

“Ha! That old constable couldn’t catch a cold in a snow storm.” Bert wheezed. Tim and Jimmy laughed.

“…tuppence a bag?” A voice was heard in the distance.

“She’s back!” Jimmy whispered.

The old bird woman.

“I’ll distract her and you two grab her coins!” Jimmy said and dashed off.

“We shouldn’t steal from her!” Bert called after his friend.

He never listens.

-

“Feed this to your birds you old git!” Jimmy shouted.

He had over turned a waste bin and was throwing trash at the ancient woman.

She was sitting in her usual spot, minding her own business with a rock pigeon on her head and one on each shoulder. She had a small tin can on a blanket set out in front of her. With rows of paper bags full of breadcrumbs for sale.

Now he’s really done it.

“Feed the birds!” She shouted at Jimmy, imploring him to stop.

She covered her head with her arms and her birds huddled closer to protect her.

“Get her boys!” Jimmy hissed, throwing a balled up newspaper at her.

Bert ran forward to grab the trash and start to apologize. Tim was a moment behind moving fast.

Is he going for the breadcrumbs?

A yelp came from behind him as Jimmy was picked up by a firm hand on his ear.

“Now now! This simply won’t do!” A woman’s voice sang sternly.

Before Bert knew what happened, the woman swooped down on him and Tim and pretty as can be. She snatched them up my their ears too.

How can she grab all three of us? And her hands are so strong!

“Jane. Are these boys yours?” She asked.

“Tuppence a bag.” She replied with a shrug.

“Put me down!” Shouted Jimmy, but she only twisted his ear harder.

Bert watched her glare at Jimmy but her perfect face couldn't crease. Her hair and hat were framed against storm-clouds miles high about to gust and gale.

“Quiet. I’ll ask you to speak later.” She said firmly.

She pushed a carpet bag in front of the bird woman and turned to Bert, relinquishing his ear.

“Young man, if you would be so kind.” She said and offered Bert Tim’s ear to hold.

“Of course.” Bert said taking firm hold of Tim’s ear. The two boys stared at the strange woman as she swept the trash off of the bird woman. Jimmy groaned and wailed in her grip.

She reached down with one hand holding Jimmy’s ear and opened the carpet bag with her other. Her arm disappeared up to her shoulder into the bag. She rooted around for a few seconds mumbling to herself them produced a long French Baguette from the bag.

“There.” She said smugly as she offered the loaf of bread to Jimmy.

“You now. Hand this to Jane and apologize.” She said. “Spit spot.”

Jimmy refused and she twisted his ear again until he relented. “Hop to it now.” She said in her singsong voice that meant business.

“Here, Ma’am.” Jimmy said quickly and dropped the bread in the old bird woman’s lap.

“Thank you Mary Poppins.” She said.