The Sinister Screen Queen

Ming slid into the car seat with the exhausted sigh of someone who had just been through a financial exorcism. She clutched her last betting slip like it was a cursed artifact.

Nineteen betting houses.

Nineteen slips.

Each one worth £500.

Her brain kicked into math mode. 500 times 19… That's £9,500… 9-to-1 odds...

She blinked. That's nearly £100,000... if Tanya's bet hits.

She glanced down at her own modest little ticket… £200, the sum total of her meticulously saved allowance.

Why did she do that?

Why do she trust her?

Ming frowned. "I can't believe I bought this."

In the backseat, Allegra was lounging with her usual dramatics, one arm draped over the headrest. "Now that we are finally finished with all this nonsense."

"Can we do something actually fun now, per favore?"

"What do you suggest?" Tanya grinned.

Allegra grinned wickedly. "We sneak into a royal banquet. Or burn down an abandoned historical site. Like that old church with the creepy gargoyles… bam! History's gone!"

"Allegra!" Emilia gasped, horrified. "You can't burn history!"

"…and you shouldn't." Ming quietly spoke.

Allegra shrugged. "Che noia… it's already burnt in history, no?"

Tanya, lounging like a smug cat, cut in. "I'd rather go to the theater."

That got everyone's attention.

"Theater?" Allegra wrinkled her nose like she'd just smelled something uncultured. "No, no, no. I already sat through four hours of opera last month, and I was emotionally kidnapped."

"Mai più! Never again!"

Emilia perked up. "I've never been! But… I don't know. Isn't it supposed to be super serious?"

"I don't care." Ming gave a shrug, she couldn't care less. Honestly, after today, sitting sounded heavenly.

Mary Poppins, still in the driver's seat and utterly unbothered. "I think a visit to the theater is precisely what you little chaos goblins need."

Tanya leaned forward sweetly at Allegra. "You owe me for last night. Don't forget."

Allegra grimaces "Tsk. Fine. But if anyone sings off-key, lascio"

Tanya turns to Emilia. "I'll buy you a mountain of chocolate afterward."

"I'm in!" She squeals.

Tany finally turned to Ming. "And you… start caring."

Ming blinked. "That's not how motivation works—"

"Too late." Tanya said. "We're going."

The theater stood like a stubborn relic from another era, grand in its peeling paint and velvet drapes. Posters outside promised dramas, musicals, and a delightfully… old-fashioned show.

A poster for a |Mary Poppins Live Stage Show| flaps in the breeze.

"Huh. That's ironic." Tanya comments truly surprised.

Mary perks up, "Oh my. I wasn't expecting this."

They approach the ticket booth were a sweet elderly woman squints at the uniqueness of their group.

"Afternoon, dears. What can I get you?"

Mary Poppins smiles brightly.

"Five for the Mary Poppins show. These four troublemakers are mine. I'm here to show them the magic of theater."

The old lady blinked, then gave a soft "Ow!" As her heart melted.

"Oh my, you look the part. Lovely costume. You'll make a fine Mary Poppins."

Mary twirled her umbrella. Literally twirled it and conjures a soft sparkle of floating glitter around her umbrella tip.

The woman gasps.

Mary leaned in, eyes sparkling. "That's because I am Mary Poppins."

The elderly woman, too charmed to question reality, slapped a discount sticker on their tickets and waved them in. "God help me, I believe you."

Inside, the group squeezed into creaky red seats. The lights dimmed.

The first act was a historical tragedy featuring suspiciously fake mustaches.

Ming found the acting passable, though she watched more out of obligation than interest.

"Look! Real fog!"

"Did you see that hat change?! Magic!"

Emilia, on the other hand, was enraptured… clapping, gasping, nudging Ming to explain every plot twist.

Allegra, arms crossed, scoffed every ten minutes.

"This dress?" She whispered. "È terribile. Looks like my nonna's tablecloth died tragically and came back for vengeance."

"Shhh! The actors might hear you!" Emilia hissed.

Tanya eyed her friend. "She's actually enjoying it."

"I am not. I'm… studying. For critique." Allegra raised her chin.

But by the second play a comedy involving three drunk dukes and a goat… Allegra was leaning in. She gasped dramatically at bad plot twists and stage-slapped the air with impressive timing.

Then, as the lights rose for the next show… Mary Poppins: The Musical changed.

Mary sat straight in her seat.

On stage, the Banks family was falling apart in the opening scene, the music swelling to cue Mary Poppins' entrance.

Suddenly, from the audience, MARY POPPINS (the real one) stands.

"Oh dear, what a disaster. This simply won't do." She smiled disapprovingly.

"M-Mary?" Emilia asked, eyes wide.

Tanya glares at Mary. "You're not going to—"

"She better not. They already have an attrice!" Allegra whispers scandalized.

"They already have someone playing you…" Ming added, even though to her ears that sounded weird.

Mary gave them all a crisp, knowing smile. "Darling, no one plays Mary Poppins but Mary Poppins."

With a flick of her wrist, she opened her umbrella.