- Chapter 2 -

Ludgate Park, London. 1881

“Right,” Mary Poppins said certainly. “Step to it children.”

She took up Jimmy’s ear again before he could run away.

“Will you two behave?” She asked Bert and Tim, they both nodded quickly.

“Good. Now you,” she said to Bert. “Pick up my carpet bag. Spit spot!”

Bert picked up the bag, but could not cart it very far.

It’s so heavy!

“Oy Tim! Lend me a hand with this bag, it’s a brick and a half!”

“No dawdling now!” Mary Poppins said as she marched across the park with Jimmy’s ear and him attached.

They crossed from the plaza into a courtyard surrounded by roses. The fantastic Mary Poppins stopped then and looked about. She must have been quite satisfied since she nodded once to her self then turned her gaze on Jimmy.

“I have something that I think you want child.” She said crossly.

“And what’s that?” Jimmy asked, earning himself a tweak of his ear.

“Why it’s obvious I’ve got your ear.” She said and neatly popped it off The boy’s head.

“Oh!” Jimmy cried, more shocked than in pain.

She took it right off his head! It’s as smooth as a baby’s bottom. As if there never was an ear there at all!

“Ha! Serves you right Jimmy!” Tim laughed.

Mary Poppins dangled the tiny ear, perfectly intact, infront of Jimmy’s shocked face.

“Your ear is clean off.” Bert said after he laughed for a few seconds. “You never listen to half the things anyone says anyways.”

“Give it back!” Jimmy said, tears were coming to his eyes and he was getting angry.

“Now now, children.” Mary Poppins said with all seriousness. “Let’s not make fun of people just because they’ve lost an ear.”

Beet and Timmy simmered down but their laughter was struggling to fill them up again.

“Give it back you witch!” Jimmy cried.

“Now stop that. I’m not a witch, not anymore than you are a fresh baby.” Mary Poppins said.

“Now, I have found your ear and am trying to return it to you, but you are not making this any easier, are you?”

“He’s sorry Mrs. Mary Poppins.” Bert said.

“Well he should say that himself then. I mean really. Who loses an ear?” She said disdainfully.

Bert shuffled over to Jimmy and whispered in his remaining ear.

“You better apologize right. She’s going to ruin your day in a minute.” Bert whispered.

“I won’t! She stole my-“

“Now! See here! Such crass accusations. And a sour attitude.” Mary Poppins chided. “Careful now boy. You may end up as solid as stone if you cannot learn to bend a Little.”

She pointed over the boy’s heads, back to the old fountain they had left behind. It was one of a little boy, a rich kid by the looks of his clothes. He was standing solemnly with his head looking down and shoulders slumped. The water from the fountain landed on his head from four directions.

“Why he could not apologize and he was turned to stone.” She said.

“That’s a lie.” Jimmy said.

“Oh it’s true. I should know. I was there.” She said. “And I never tell lies.”

“Adults are all liars.” Jimmy said.

“Yes they are, but I’m not your usual adult.” She replied.

“She’s a witch…” Tim said then covered his mouth with his hand.

“She’s beautiful.” Bert said at the same time.

“Hush now children.” She said. “That’s what the little boy over there thought. Now his penance is to be a statue for a hundred years.”

“Kids can’t turn to stone!” Said Jimmy.

“Come back tonight and ask the statue boy yourselves, if you so choose.”

“Yeah right! This is baby fantasy stuff. I need something to eat!” Jimmy said.

“Call out his name three times and he will wake up. His name is Arthur.” She said. “But do not play his game. And under no circumstances should you touch him, or take anything from him.”

“Yeah right!” Jimmy huffed. “Give me my ear back already.”

“No I think I will keep it until you learn to listen.” She said.

“Now you two.” She said turning to Bert and Tim.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“No don’t take our ears, miss!” Tim said.

Jimmy’s hand went to his smooth head unconsciously.

“She wouldn’t take our ears Tim.” Bert said. “We listen real good.”

“That’s right, young man. What is your name?” She said.

“My name is Bert Mrs. Marry Poppins. Ma’am.” Bert said awkwardly. “You are beautiful milady.”

“Now Bert, compliments will only get you so far.” She said.

Marry poppins checked that her hat was on squarely and pressed down the lapel of her coat.

“You two tried your best to help the bird woman. Despite other influences.” She gave Jimmy a look.

“That’s right ma’am.” Bert said. “She needs the coins for the birds, she does.”

“So what!” Says Jimmy, “she should keep the money and feed herself.”

“She has enough to eat, the birds need the bread to feed their young. To be happy and fly.” Mary Poppins replied. “Hear this and learn a secret of the world. Or I will turn you to stone.”

She turned towards Bert and looked into his eyes.

“Sharing and spreading Joy, even a small happiness is the greatest kind of magic you can do.” She said with all seriousness. “So many people in this day and age will try to buy your happiness, or tell you it’s worth less than it is and steal it away.”

“But ma’am? We barely eat on our own as it is. We have no money to give away.” Bert said, and Tim nodded his agreement.

“Bert, that’s neither here nor there. Now what do you dream of being when you grow up? What’s something you could do everyday that would make you happy?” She asked opening her carpet bag.

“I would be happy to paint pictures of you milady.

She really is lovely. Perfect in every way.

She gave him a stern look and Bert knew not to flatter her any more today.

“Now children. It’s not about money, although that can help quite a bit. There are free ways to spread joy and wonder, you just have to find them.”

“How?” Tim asked.

“Do you believe this nonsense?” Jimmy scoffed. “It’s all a trick.”

“Can you not see your ear is off idiot?” Tim said to Jimmy.

“If you believe in me, believe in the secret magical world beyond what you see. Then promise to spread joy and wonder in my name.” She said.

She is amazing.

“I promise.” Bert said.

Tim stuffed his hands in his pockets and avoided her eyes.

“No way!” Jimmy said.

Mary Poppins smiled at Bert. She reached down inside her carpet bag and produced an oil pastel set for Bert.

“As long as you believe in me and keep you your oath that set of chalk will never run out.”

“I promise too!” Tim said hurriedly.

“Better late than never I guess.” She said and reached down into her carpet back and produced a simple pair of shoes for Tim.

“You made a fine promise, uphold it and these dancing shoes will weather any damage. Simply dance and they will repair themselves, they will never need repairs.” She said handing them to the boy.

“No go. You cheeky children have taken up my spare time. And on my precious day off!” She said hotly. “Good day.”

And before the boys knew it, she had walked briskly away through the crowd and out of sight.

-

The park was quiet. Bert and Jimmy sprinted across the lawns under the moonlight. Here and there they spotted a homeless person wrapped in rags, or a sometimes a drunk sleeping on the benches or lawns.

If we get caught out here a patrolman will tan our backsides.

Jimmy sat down behind a bush and fidgeted with some dirt under his nails.

“What’s gotten into you Jimmy?” Bert asked.

Jimmy punched him in the arm.

“Shut up.” He said. “I can’t believe you turned on me and joined that witch.”

“You should have sworn a promise to her Jimmy. She would have given you your ear back I think.”

The boy punched Bert again. Bert dropped his pastel set to rub his shoulder.

“I said shut up! And don’t talk about my ear!”

Bert rubbed his arm silently.

“I’m going to prove to you she’s a liar.” Jimmy said. “An ear stealing liar.”

Jimmy crouched and peeked over the bush. Before them was the court and fountain with the little boy.

“If you didn’t believe her then why did we come back here?” Bert asked.

“I told you. To prove to you that she’s a liar. That statue is not gonna come alive. It ain’t never was a little boy.”

Seems like a lot of work if you didn’t believe.

“I heard her, same as you. She said it was dangerous.” Bert said.

“This kid Arthur ain’t gonna grab me.” Jimmy said.

Jimmy scoffed and stood up tall. Bert grabbed his arm and held him back.

“Jimmy we shouldn’t be here. It feels wrong.” Bert said.

“You big baby! Go play with your magic crayons. That witch is a liar, all adults are liars.” Jimmy said.

He’s still not listening. Can’t he feel how wrong this is?

“I’m going to put her words to the test. Are you going to hide like a baby?”

“Don’t mess with that kid.” Bert said. “I won’t go with you. It’s a stupid thing.”

“Then shut up and watch. Nothing is going to happen.” Jimmy said as he slipped Bert’s grip.

Jimmy walked out onto the paved stone court. The moon shone right overhead, casting his shadow in a blob on the cobblestones under the boy’s feet.

Maybe he’s right? Nothing will happen.

Jimmy crossed the court and hesitated beside the fountain. He made up his mind and stepped up onto the rim.

He stood there for a minute, still as a statue. Bert nearly called out to him but the silence was thick and impenetrable. Even the wind held its breath.

“Arthur…”

No Jimmy don’t!

“Arthur…”

A pile of rags and blankets at the edge of the court groaned and turned over in its sleep.

Jimmy stared at the pile of rags intently and chuckled nervously.

The statue moved, stone grinding as it turned its head to look at Jimmy.

“Hello Jimmy. Have you come to play a game with me?” The stone boy said.

He already knows Jimmy's name!

“No. No-no!” Jimmy said and he stumbled backwards falling off the fountain’s edge.

The statue coughed up dust and rolled its shoulders. It took a shakey step down from its pedestal in the middle of the fountain.

“That’s why you came. To play a game.” Arthur said. “My favorite game is tag.”

“You aren’t real.” Jimmy said.

He’s got to get out of there!

Bert crawled around the bush he had been hiding behind. He stumbled to his feet, shaking. He reached the edge of the lawn but could not step over the border onto the cobblestones.

He’s my friend! Why can’t I save him?

“But I am real. I’ve been here for so long. It’s so lonely without anyone to play with.” Arthur’s said.

The statue took another step through the water of the fountain. The water came up to above his knees and stained his stone britches where they got wet.

“No! I won’t play with you.” Jimmy shouted. “Get back on your fountain, you can’t do this.”

I have to help him! I can’t just leave him out there alone!

Arthur reached the edge of the fountain and climbed up over the edge.

His body creaked and cracks formed on his smooth stone body.

Bert was frozen in place, unable to help his friend.

“I get to play one game. That’s the rule.” Arthur said. “The moon is out and you spoke my name thrice. The game has already begun.”

“Stop!” A voice called out. The pile of rags stood up then. The old bird woman stared down her nose at Arthur.

“Stay out of this witch!” Arthur said.

The cursed statue lunged and reached for Jimmy’s leg. Jimmy managed to scramble back. He rolled onto his hands and knees and crawled as fast as he could, unable to gain his feet and run.

“I said stop!” The old bird woman shouted. “Return to your pedestal at once.”

The statue snarled at her. It spat and clawed at its face. But it stood still.

"You have rules, your penance is not fulfilled." She commanded.

“I am allowed to steal my freedom!” Arthur shrieked. “Was that not the truth?”

“Not in my presence. Such disrespect is what landed you in this punishment in the first place.” She commanded.

She spoke a word that Bert could not hear. Her mouth moved in shapes he did not understand. The statue was dragged back to the pedestal by invisible forces. His stone hands scraped the pavement as he cried and scrambled for purchase.

Bert was able to breathe again once the boy was back on his pedestal.

“You, boy. I know you.” She said. “Are you okay? Did he touch you?

Jimmy pushed her away and ran off. Bert chased after him.