The Castaways Resort

Spring 1983

"I can't believe you're making me work on my birthday." Gilligan grumbled.

"Listen, Gilligan, I told you to get those tikis to the main ballroom, so do it!" Bellowed the Skipper.

Gilligan replied, "Aye Skipper," while grabbing the torches.

While Gilligan was lifting the torches he accidentally barked the Skipper's shin. The Skipper grabbed his shin. Gilligan rushed off to avoid the expletives he had coming to him, but oddly were not uttered.

When Gilligan entered the ballroom, he was greeted with five shouts of, "Surprise!"

The Skipper limped in behind Gilligan chuckling, "Happy 40th birthday, little buddy!"

The Professor, Skipper, Ginger, Mary Ann, and the Howells then all sang "Happy Birthday" to Gilligan. Mary Ann then brought out one of her special cakes, with coconut crème filling.

Mary Anne then said to Gilligan, "I can't believe you're 40!"

Gilligan smiled, "I can't either. But this party is very nice, thank you all."

The seven former castaways had been running the exclusive resort on their island, with major financial backing from the Howells, for five years. The Howells handled the business end, the Skipper and Gilligan ran the boat shuttle from Hawaii, Ginger was entertainment director, Mary Anne ran food service, and the Professor was PI (Principal Investigator) for several major university grants studying tropical ecosystems. The end result brought an eclectic group of the ridiculously rich, stellar celebrities, and the most brilliant to the island to study and play.

When the party started to wind down, the Professor said, "Happy birthday, Gilligan, it was a fun party. I need to get back to my research, so I'll see you in the morning."

Gilligan replied, "Thank you Professor, I wish I was smart like you."

That stopped the Professor cold, "Gilligan," he said, "don't ever think you're not smart."

The Skipper agreed, "Little buddy, you may sometimes be a bit of a knucklehead, but you're one sharp seaman. Why do you think we've been together for over two decades?"

The Professor said, "The Skipper's right, Gilligan, you can do whatever you put your mind to."

Gilligan mumbled, "But I didn't go to college like you, the Skipper, and the Howells."

The Professor said, "Going to college doesn't necessarily make you smart. But if you want to go to college you should go. I can make some calls, and I'm sure you can get into a good university. Between your Navy GI Bill and the trust the Howells started for you, money for school shouldn't be any problem."

Gilligan asked, "You all really think I could make it in college?"

Mary Ann smiled, "Of course."

Mr. Howell said, "My boy, you will be the toast of the campus."

Ginger answered, "Gilligan, I've seen you do incredible things."

Mrs. Howell chipped in, "Any college would be lucky to have you."

Gilligan followed up with, "What about my age, I'll be over 20 years older than most freshman?"

The Skipper answered, "Little buddy, I've known a lot of men and women who entered college after a 20 or even 30 year military career. Its not as unusual as you think."

The Professor added, "I've seen women who enter college after their children leave home, and second career people even older than you starting college."

"OK," said Gilligan "I'll give college a try."

The castaways cheered.

Several Weeks Later

"Gilligan!" Barked the Skipper, "unload this mailbag."

Gilligan went into the water taxi and took the large bag that read US Mail.

"Wow," said Gilligan, "This bag is heavy!"

"Well," said the Skipper, reaching into the bag and taking out a large Manila envelope, "it should be lighter now."

Gilligan noticed right away that the envelope was addressed to "Willie Gilligan." The prospective academician also noticed the college seal next to the Arizona return address. Gilligan quickly opened the envelope.

"I got in!" Gilligan shouted much to the pleasure of his companions and amusement of the guests, "I got in!"

August, 1983

The going away party was even bigger than the birthday party. Mary Ann made one of her cakes, and Gilligan got several gifts to prepare him for college and dorm life.

The Skipper explained travel arrangements to Gilligan, "I'll take you in the water taxi to Oahu, then we'll go over to Honolulu International Airport. From there you'll change planes at LAX. When you get to Tucson, take the shuttle van to the college campus."

"OK Skipper," Gilligan replied, "Thanks."

When it came time to leave, all of the castaways accompanied Gilligan to the Hawaii airport. The stewardess on the flight to LA recognized Gilligan as a Minnow survivor, so the former castaway turned college freshman got VIP treatment. By doing a cross-airport sprint at LAX, Gilligan barely made the flight to Tucson. At TIA, Gilligan had no trouble finding ground transportation at the small airport flooded with college students.

Gilligan did have some trouble finding transportation to his school. Most students were going to the larger University of Arizona, not the smaller private college he was attending. Finally, Gilligan found a cab to take him to the nearby campus.

Gilligan kind of felt he was getting 'the treatment' from the cabbie when he passed what looked like the same Saguaro cactus for the third time, but finally they did arrive on campus. All of Gilligan's frustrations disappeared when they passed through the gate of what would be his home for the next four years.

The sign over the college gate proudly proclaimed, "Adams College, Home of the Atoms!"