Мэри Поппинс
Bad Tuesday
Andthenperhaps"—MaryPoppins’svoicewasatitsmostpriggish—"you’llbesorryyoumissedus."
ThePandaopenedoneblackeye."Oh,it’syou,mydeargirl,"hesaidsleepily."Whynothaveletmeknowyouwerecoming?Difficultthoughitwouldhavebeen,foryouIwouldhavestayedawake."Thefurryshapeyawnedandstretcheditself."Ahwell,I’llhavetomakeahomeforyouall.Therewouldn’tbeenoughroominmine."Henoddedataneatsheltermadeofleavesandbamboosticks."But,"headded,eyingtheherring,"Iwillnotallowthatscalyseathingunderanyroofofmine.Fishesarefartoofishyforme."
"Weshallnotbestaying,"MaryPoppinsassuredhim."We’retakingalittletriproundtheworldandjustlookedinforamoment."
"Whatnonsense!"ThePandagaveanenormousyawn."Traipsingwildlyroundtheworldwhenyoucouldstayherewithme.Nevermind,mydearMary,youalwaysdowhatyouwanttodo,howeverabsurdandfoolish.Pluckafewyoungbambooshoots.They’llsustainyoutillyougethome.Andyoutwo"—henoddedatJaneandMichael—"ticklemegentlybehindtheears.Thatalwayssendsmetosleep."
Eagerlytheysatdownbesidehimandstrokedthesilkyfur.Neveragain—theyweresureofit—wouldtheyhavethechanceofstrokingaPanda.
Thefurryshapesettleditself,andastheystroked,thesnore—orthepurr—beganitsrhythm.
"He’sasleep,"saidMaryPoppinssoftly."Wemustn’twakehimagain."Shebeckonedtothechildren,andastheycameontip-toetowardsher,shegaveaflickofherwrist.
