The stranger had been staring at Mary Poppins since she’d taken her place at the front of the bus, standing to make room for the elderly men and women on board. Mary was used to the occasional stranger giving her some remark or another about her looks, or even offering her a flower or asking if she’d like to have tea with them sometime. But what she wasn’t accustomed to was rudeness, so after twenty minutes had passed she sighed and looked him in the eye.
"I beg your pardon," she said, pursing her lips. "Is there something I could help you with?"
Immediately the man blushed and stuttered out an apology. “It’s just that I don’t ever remember seeing a lady quite as pretty as you, miss. Are you a model? Or a movie star maybe?”
At this Mary huffed and and placed a hand on her hip. “A movie star, heaven’s sake-I’m going to be a nanny,” she corrected, before turning to look out the window.
"Leave Ms. Poppins alone now," said an old lady with three of her bottom teeth missing. "She’s a proper lady she is, and wouldn’t want anything to do with the likes of you no how, you old codger. She’s just out of school, aren’t you Mary? How old are you?"
Mary turned back around and smiled at the woman. “Eighteen. Ah, here’s my stop. Good day to you Mrs. Greely,” she gave the woman a smile as she stepped off the bus and headed down the cobblestone sidewalk. This area of Disney City was often nicknamed “London Towne” for its resemblance to the famous English city. The streets were all familiar to her, and she paused to greet everyone who recognized her. Soon she came to a small shop near the orphanage and she stepped inside.
The antique store was dimly lit and smelled of old books. A tiny bell rang her arrival and an man with white hair and a full beard popped up from behind the counter. “‘Ello miss!” he called. “What can I do for you?”
"I’m just looking for a bag," she said, stepping carefully around old rocking chairs and vases. "Something simple, a carpetbag perhaps."
"Well follow me!" said the worker, as he cheerfully led Mary towards a shelf filled with bags. As the man rambled on and on about his stock, Mary carefully picked up each bag, testing the weight of it before setting it back down. After awhile, she grabbed one with a nice floral pattern and moved to set it on the nearest table.
"I believe this may be the one," she said, interrupting the man’s speech.
"Of course, of course! Lovely choice that one is we’ve-what are you doing?" the man asked in a hesitant voice as Mary pulled a black hat from the bag. She placed it on her head as the man knit his brow in confusion. "I coulda sworn all these bags were empty…"
"Let’s see," began Mary, reaching into the bag once more and pulling out a black coat. "Lovely. I am quite fond of black to travel in. A very stately color, don’t you think?" she shrugged the jacket on and smoothed the wrinkles with her hands.
The man said nothing, but picked up the bag and peered closely inside it. Then he turned it upside down and shook it. Mary cleared her throat and gently took it back from him. Wordlessly she stuck her entire arm inside the bag, rummaging around for a moment before pulling out a long wall mirror.
"You," said the man. "You, you, you-how,h-how did you,"
"Hold this if you would, thank you kindly," said Mary, handing the mirror to the man who had become slightly red in the face. Her hand found its way back into the bag and this time she pulled out a tube of lipstick. While the man sputtered and shook, she applied the red color to her lips, smacking them together delicately when she was through.
"Perfect. Alright," she grasped the mirror and placed it back in the carpetbag. "Wait a minute…I need one last thing…" she tapped her chin before reaching back into the bag. This time she pulled out a long black umbrella with a handle carved like a parrot. This time the worker gave a low cry.
"Honestly," said Mary, snapping her head towards him and narrowing her eyes. "It is not polite to gape like a trout, nevermind the noises you’re making. Are you quite alright?"
The man’s face was beginning to resemble a cherry, and he was having a hard time breathing.
"I’m ready to pay now," said Mary, but the man just shooed her away.
"Just-j-just go! It’s free, just take it!" shouted the old man, and Mary closed the bag and carried it in one hand, the umbrella in the other.
"Well that’s so kind of you, thank you," she grinned. She walked out briskly onto the sidewalk and stared at the scene around her. Everyone was walking around busily as usual, and somewhere far away she thought she heard a familiar whistling sound, but she couldn’t quite pin where it was coming from. Still, the song brought a smile on her face, and she was reminded of a boy covered in soot who loved to dance on rooftops.
A single piece of paper floated by and she plucked it out of the air. “674 Spruce Street,” she read with a smile. “How charming.”
As the afternoon sky darkened, she opened her umbrella and felt her feet lift off the ground. An east wind blew by, carrying her higher and higher in the sky.