Mary Poppins was just reaching the bottom of the stairs after putting Jane and Michael down for a nap with one of her whimsical lullabies when she heard the lord of the manor, George Banks, summon her.
"Miss Poppins, could I see you in my den?"
"Certainly. Just let me nip into the-"
"Now, Miss Poppins!" George commanded as he turned and left the room.
"Yes, sir." Mary replied. It was clear by the tone of her employer's voice that she was about to be called on the carpet. She reached into a pocket of her overcoat and removed a large flask and a spoon. After removing the cap, she ladled out some rum punch and quickly swallowed it. "A spoon full of sugar makes the punishment go down." she murmured to herself as she recapped the flask and tucked it away.
As Mary entered the den she noticed a short blonde woman with a red and pink striped bottom standing in a corner of the room with her hands on her head. She was entirely nude except for a long silk sash with the words "Votes For Women" printed on it.
"Oh, my! Is that you, Mrs. Banks?!"
"Winifred has been an insufferable suffragette!" George said. This afternoon she let a whole band of dancing chimney sweeps into the house. Got soot all over the place! Messy business! But a dozen good strokes to her bare botty had her stepping in time. Didn't it, my dear?"
"Yes, George." Mrs. Banks whimpered.
"Now go upstairs and get dressed or you'll get another dozen."
"Yes, George. Thank you, George." Winifred said as she hurriedly scampered out of the room.
Mr. Banks seated himself behind his desk as he addressed the comely, rosy-cheeked nanny.
"I have concerns about the unorthodox methods you employ in watching after my children."
"I'm not sure what you mean."
"Well, I understand you took Jane and Michael to the park where you all jumped into some sort of sidewalk painting."
"A chalk drawing, actually."
"Please don't interrupt."
"Sorry, sir."
"Then you took the children on a fox hunt?"
"Yes I did! Then we entered the Derby on some merry-go-round horses and my horse won! It was most exciting!"
"Congratulations." George said sarcastically.
"Thank you. Ooh! And then Bert danced with some singing penguins dressed as waiters!"
Mr. Banks held his hand out to Mary, signaling her to stop talking.
"Miss Poppins, I don't believe I authorized this bizarre outing. And I know I would never agree to involving my young ones in a horse race much less a fox hunting expedition."
"But, Mr. Banks-"
"Miss Poppins!" George interrupted. "I have tried to be patient with you. However, time and time again, you have chosen to utterly disregard my instructions as to the care of my children." With that, he reached into a drawer on the right hand side of his desk and produced a thin wooden rod. "Do you know what this is, Mary?"
"Why, yes... it's a cane. Oh, I do hope you're not planning on punishing Jane and Michael with that!"
"I don't intend to punish them at all. They were in your charge, so it is you with whom I have an issue."
"My goodness! You do go out of your way to avoid ending a sentence with a preposition!"