Mary Ann smiled as the Skipper put down the basket after coming from the Professor's hut. "Already finished?"
Skipper chuckled. "Wasn't that hard to come up with something." He smiled at her. "What about you? I can't imagine you having trouble writing a fairy tale."
Mary Ann put her hands on her hips. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He just grinned. "Aw come on Little Sweetheart! You two have been best friends since we got here!" His eyes twinkled with mirth. "I've always wondered about that."
She scowled and tapped her foot but couldn't hold her ground. She smiled a little. "He's special. I've never met anyone like him before."
Skipper smiled gently. "Mary Ann if I were to be completely honest I'd love to see the two of you get together. He'd be a great husband and a wonderful father someday."
She blushed. "Well...maybe someday."
Skipper nodded in understanding. "Do you need some paper?"
She shook her head. "I'm using the stationary I bought when I went to Hawaii."
He nodded before leaving.
Mary Ann sat down at the communal table and pulled out her notebook. Something caught her eye and she smiled at the butterfly that landed in front of her. Her smile brightened when she got hit with an idea.
"Once upon a time there was a fairy that loved to fly around the beach and over the water looking for her best friend, the merman. She'd use her magic to let him know where she was and he'd appear. The two would play for hours and race each other through the sea. She was amazed at his gracefulness as he jumped over and into the swells tail flicking in merriment. One thing the merman liked to do was flick his tail at her and get her all wet! She'd then use her magic to retaliate and shoot him a tickling spell making the merman laugh. One day the fairy discovered a special fruit that was as sweet as her friend and used it to make a pie."
Mary Ann giggled. She was of course referring to her coconut creme pies! Gilligan practically lived for them! She'd have to make him one today.
"The merman hadn't even hesitated. He devoured it and the fairy knew just how to make him happy! One day the fairy was searching for her friend when a storm him. She sent out her magic but wasn't sure if he could see her. She fell into the water but not a second later she was in his arms and carried to the surface. She looked at his worried face and smiled. He had saved her! The merman looked around for something to push her on but couldn't find anything. Instead he treaded water and put her on the top of his head. He skimmed the top of the water on the way to shore. Once there he pulled out a conch shell and blew into it. Within minutes the wizard arrived and took the fairy from his arms before turning the merman human. They raced to the wizard's home where she was tended to. The merman helped to take care of her and didn't even return to the sea until she was better."
Mary Ann smiled. The last time she had gotten sick Gilligan had been by her side constantly. Ginger had told her that when she had fallen on the stage Gilligan had made a flying leap to her side. She had always liked him. Her best friend. Her sweet and gentle Gilligan.
"When the fairy got better she kissed his cheek and called him her hero. The merman told her not to go out in storms like that because she could get hurt. The seas were rough. She agreed that she wouldn't do it again. The merman waited on her hand and foot until she was better before he returned to the sea."
She stopped then stumped as to what else to write. She wanted to tell GIlligan her crush on him but he'd more than likely run away from her like he used to do to Ginger. She grinned at the memories of him knocking himself out and Ginger's annoyance that had eventually turned to amusement and became a game to her. The actress had told Mary Ann one day that Gilligan wasn't like other men in Hollywood and wished that they could take a lesson from him.
She'd felt a little jealous thinking that Ginger liked him as more than a friend. GInger saw that and reassured her that she had her eyes on the Professor and Gilligan was more of a little pesky little brother that was fun to pick on from time to time because he picked right back!
She thought back to what the Skipper had said. Maybe it was time. She took a deep breath.
"The fairy continued to visit her friend and the more time she spent with him the more she began to fall in love with him. She couldn't tell him though because she was afraid. Afraid that it would ruin her friendship with him. He was the sweetest and most gentle boy she'd ever met. She felt safe with him and knew he cared for her. For now she was happy that she got to spend time with him. Maybe someday she could tell him how she truly felt and hope that it would be given back. The End."
May Ann sighed as she went to the Professor and handed hers to him. She watched as he read it and smiled.
"Well little fairy, I think you might be surprised."
Mary Ann blushed. "You think so Professor?"
"He's shy Mary Ann. I think the two of you should sit down and talk about this. Alone."
The farm girl nodded. "I know. Maybe someday."
The Professor watched her leave before he sat down and drew a sketch of the merman in the water with the fairy above him. "The Fairy's Tale" was definitely one he wanted to see come true!