Мэри Поппинс
Bad Tuesday
Whichwouldwintheprize?Orwouldtheprizeescape?
"Froggie!Froggie!Froggie!"yelledMichael.Iftheherringhadtobecaughtandeaten,hewantedFroggietowin.
"F-r-o-g-g-i-e!"Thewindandseabothcriedthename,butMichael’svoicewasthestronger.
"Whatdoyouthinkyou’redoing,Michael?"MaryPoppinssoundedferocious.
Heglancedatherforamomentandturnedagaintothesea.
Buttheseawasnotthere.Nothingbutaneatgreenlawn;Jane,agog,besidehim;theTwinsintheperambulator;andMaryPoppinspushingitinthemiddleofthePark.
"Jumpingupanddownandshouting!Makinganuisanceofyourself.Onewouldthinkyouhaddoneenoughforoneday.Stepalongatonce,please!"
"Roundtheworldandbackinaminute—whatawonderfulbox!"saidJane.
"It’sacompass.Notabox.Andit’smine,"saidMichael."Ifoundit.Giveittome!"
"Mycompass,thankyou,"saidMaryPoppins,assheslippeditintoherpocket.
Helookedasifhewouldliketokillher.Butheshruggedhisshouldersandstalkedofftakingnonoticeofanyone.
Theburningweightstillhungheavilywithinhim.Aftertheadventurewiththecompassitseemedtogrowworse,andtowardstheeveninghegrewnaughtierandnaughtier.HepinchedtheTwinswhenMaryPoppinswasnotlooking,andwhentheycriedhesaidinafalselykindvoice:
"Why,darlings,whatisthematter?"
ButMaryPoppinswasnotdeceivedbyit.
"You’vegotsomethingcomingtoyou!"shesaidsignificantly.Buttheburningthinginsidehimwouldnotlethimcare.HejustshruggedhisshouldersandpulledJane’shair.
