"Gilligan you're late." frowned the Skipper as Gilligan made his way up to the boat.
"Sorry Skipper." Gilligan said apologetically.
"It's alright. Just get to work. We have a full schedule tomorrow. I want everything in tip top shape."
"Aye Aye Skipper." said Gilligan as he hurried off to clean off the deck of the boat.
As he worked his mind began to wonder to Mary Ann and the night before. It had been an experience he never felt before. Holding her in his arms...loving her.
The Skipper noticed the far off expression on Gilligan's face accompanied by a grin.
"Hey Little Buddy...I said get to work." He admonished him.
"Oh...sorry Skipper." said Gilligan as he went back to sweeping up the debris. His mind drifted again and again the Skipper had to snap him out of it.
"Gilligan!" He said sharply.
"Oh...I...Yes Skipper. Aye Aye Skipper." Gilligan stammered.
The Skipper sighed. "Okay Little Buddy...what is it?"
Gilligan turned leaning against the broom. "Mary Ann." He said.
"What about Mary Ann?"
"I love her." said Gilligan with his goofy smile.
"I know you do. I saw you two on the dolphin cruise."
"It's more than that." sighed Gilligan. "I...She and I..." He started to turn a little red and looked sheepishly at the Skipper.
The old sailor then understood what he was saying. "Oh..Well...that's great. I mean you must really love her if...uh.." He said awkwardly. "I mean she is a lovely girl..."
"She loves me." Gilligan said happily. "I never thought that I could get anyone like her but I did. You know I guess we were meant to get stranded on that island. It changed our lives for the better. Even Ginger and The Professor."
"What about Ginger and the Professor?" asked the Skipper.
"Ginger is in love with him." explained Gilligan. "Mary Ann told me. And she thinks the Professor is in love with Ginger but I think he was being stubborn or something."
The Skipper laughed. "Yeah that sounds like the Professor." He chuckled. "But I had no idea that Ginger..She was in love with him all that time?"
"Mary Ann thinks so." replied Gilligan. "So you see Skipper...it was a good thing we got shipwrecked. It brought people together."
"I suppose you are right." The Skipper smiled.
He had met Sylvia shortly after they had been rescued.
She owned a little seafood restaurant. She was a lover of the sea and sailing herself. Had her own sailboat. Sylvia inherited that trait from both her parents who also adored the sea. Always telling stories of the sea. She told him she heard about the Minnow going down and thought for sure that they had to have survived. Since no bodies were found...there was always that possibility. She told him she hated it when people just assumed a person was dead because they couldn't find them. They just had to keep looking.
He was fascinated by all the things she told him and she loved all his stories of the island..exaggerated or not...She listened intently. He met her granddaughter Susan and they two really hit it off.
The Skipper turned to Gilligan. "I am happy for you and Mary Ann and also Ginger and the Professor but can you get your mind focused back to your work. I need this boat spotless. Please concentrate on that and not a certain pretty brunette. Can you do that Little Buddy?"
"I will Skipper. I promise."
"Good." The Skipper than went back into the small cabin.
Gilligan went back to his work but as hard as he tried...he still thought of his pretty Mary Ann.
Gilligan's Boat-The Marina
Mary Ann bounded up the wooden steps of the marina feeling happy and floating on air.
What a wonderful night it had been. She had a spring in her step as she made her way down the dock where she then ran into someone.
"Oh sorry dear." The gentleman said.
Mary Ann looked at who she bumped into and smiled. "Mr. Howell."
"Mary Ann!" He exclaimed. "What a nice surprise! So good to see you my dear."
"Good to see you too." She said.
"What brings you here? Don't tell me...visiting Gilligan are you?"
Mary Ann's cheeks reddened a bit. "Um...yeah...I was uh...I thought I would visit Gill..Gilligan." She said feeling flustered.
"That's nice." said Mr. Howell not noticing her flustered state. "Say my dear...Mrs. Howell tells me that your class is the one who cooked all that delicious food at the party the other night."
"Yes..I am so glad you liked it." She smiled.
"It was simply marvelous. And I am glad I ran into you...I have a proposition for you."
"Oh? What's that?" asked Mary Ann intrigued.
"I'm opening a new restaurant with an old friend of mine...How would you like to work for me at the restaurant as one of the chefs?"
"Me?" Mary Ann said astonished. "You want me..."
"Of course my dear girl." He smiled. "You were always such a good cook. And the food you made for the party was extraordinary. I simply must hired you as a chef. You must come work for me."
Mary Ann smiled a big smile. "I would love it!" She said clapping her hands together. "Oh Mr. Howell..it's so generous of you."
"I know." He said proudly.
"I would be honored to work at your restaurant." She said.
"Good...And my dear while you are here I want to tell you I'm going to through a big party at Harry's Bar. I want you all to be there. I am inviting all the castaways! You, Gilligan, The Skipper, Ginger and the Professor."
"That's a wonderful idea!" Mary Ann exclaimed. "Gilligan and I would...I mean...I'm sure Gilligan...I..."
Mr. Howell looked at Mary Ann sensing something. "Mary Ann...is there something you are not saying."
"Well..I uh...Gilligan and I...we are together."
"Marvelous!" smiled Mr. Howell. "That's so wonderful! Lovey and I were right to try to fix you up!"
Mary Ann laughed. "I suppose you two saw something before we did."
"I'm so happy for you both. Gilligan is a fine boy."
"Thank you Mr. Howell. I have some other news. Ginger and the Professor.."
"Don't tell me...they are in love."
Mary Ann giggled. "You saw it too?"
"Of course I did...Between you and me...Lovey and I thought they were having a secret affair the whole time.."
Mary Ann giggled again. "Oh Mr. Howell.."
"I should get going. I will see you at the party!"
"Bye Mr. Howell...good to see you!" She said as he walked off to his yacht.
She laughed to herself about Mr. Howell and Mrs. Howell thinking Ginger and the Professor were having a secret affair. Maybe they weren't having a physical one but there was certainly an emotional one going on.
Mary Ann got into her car and drove back to her little apartment. It was a nice place and the landlord offered her a generous rent. He said it was the least he could do after all she had been through.
Mary Ann went inside and set her keys on the table. She hurried to the phone to call Ginger. She had to tell her all about it.
Ginger's Mansion
The elegant white phone rang and Ginger reached over to pick it up. "Hello?"
"Ginger Hi it's me Mary Ann."
"Mary Ann..I'm so glad you called. I have wonderful news to tell you!"
"I have wonderful news to tell you." squealed Mary Ann.
"Please let me. I have to tell someone or I will burst!"
"Okay..what is it?" asked Mary Ann.
"The Professor and I are getting married! He asked me to marry him and I said yes!"
Mary Ann almost dropped the phone receiver but recovered it quickly. She was stunned.
"Oh my...Ginger..I...that's wonderful! I'm so happy for you!"
"Thank you. I'm happy for me too." smiled Ginger gazing at her ring.
Mary Ann smiled on the other end. "Okay now my turn."
"What is it?"
"Gilligan and I...we...He loves me!" She shrieked happily.
"Of course he loves you silly." said Ginger happy for her friend. "He would be crazy not to. I'm so happy for you Mary Ann."
"We uh...I..." The Kansas girl said feeling a little awkward. "I spent the night...on his boat.."
"Do tell!" The movie star said sitting up.
"It was soooo..wonderful...and...magical...and...I don't know what other word to describe it...passionate...I love him so much."
"Oh Mary Ann I'm so glad to hear that." said Ginger.
"I have some other news to tell you...Mr. Howell wants to hire me to work in his restaurant."
"He does? That's terrific."
"And he wants to have a big party at Harry's with everyone. All us castaways. I uh..I told him you and the Professor...was that okay?"
Ginger laughed. "Of course it was okay. I already had the press notified of our engagement. It should be in the paper tomorrow."
"You are quick." said Mary Ann.
"I'm not wasting anytime." said Ginger. "Roy and I are together and I want the world to know that I'm going to be his bride. I want to have a grand wedding ceremony...let everyone be green with envy!"
Mary Ann giggled. That was Ginger. "Of course. I wouldn't expect anything different. I wish you both all the happiness. I really do."
"Thank you. I need to go...I have a million things to do for my wedding."
"Getting started already?"
"Well I think I waited long enough. I want to marry him as soon as I can."
"I understand. I'll talk to you later. Again congratulations."
"Thank you. And again...happy for you and Gilligan. Bye now."
Ginger hung up the receiver and sat back. She meant what she said. She wasn't going to wait long for her wedding. She waited and dreamed of this for a very long time.
The sooner she could marry her beloved Professor the better. She wanted to start her life with him as soon as possible.
Two Days Later Harry's Bar
All the castaways were gathered together so happy to see one another again.
Mary Ann sat with Gilligan at the party as the music played on the speakers.
She watched Ginger looking so happy dancing with the Professor. She was glad. Ginger deserved it.
Mary Ann saw the engagement announcement in the paper. Practically on the front page. Leave it to Ginger. She had thought. Mary Ann didn't blame her one bit. She would do the same thing in her shoes.
She looked back over at Gilligan who was enjoying a big root beer float. She giggled at the foam that he managed to get all over his face. He was like a little boy sometimes but that's one of the things she loved about him.
Mary Ann looked back over at Ginger pressing herself closer to the Professor. Her head now on his shoulder, her arms wrapped around him tightly. "You know Gilligan." She stated.
He looked up from his float. "What?"
"I was thinking about all of us on that island. I think it was meant to be."
"That's what I told the Skipper." said Gilligan.
"You did?" She smiled.
"Yeah...it was like you were meant to be brought into my life."
"You are so sweet." She said kissing him. "I love you."
"Love you too Mary Ann." He replied.
The farm girl again glanced over at Ginger and the Professor. "You remember that time you found the Eye of the Idol?"
"Yeah...I kinda goofed on that one." He said.
"Maybe." She said with a small laugh. "I guess it was kind of crazy for us to believe that it would get us off the island."
"The Professor didn't." said Gilligan. "He said it was nonsense. He was right. I remember you were the first one who say you couldn't leave him alone by himself." He looked a little sad at that memory.
"Gilligan...you think that I...No No...there was a reason...I figured out what the Professor was doing. He wanted to see if Ginger loved him."
"He did?" Gilligan said confused.
"Yes..You notice how he didn't cave until Ginger said she would stay too. He wanted to see if she thought more of him than her career. He wanted to see what meant more to her. And he found out it was him. Not her movie career. Of course he didn't really want her to give it up...he just had to know where he stood...that's why when she said she would stay on the island too...He then said he would give it a try with the eye of the idol."
"Wow. I never thought of that...say I think you are right. Mary Ann..if I had said I was going to stay on the island...would you have..."
"Without hesitation." She said kissing him. "I couldn't live without my Gilligan."
She kissed him again and then Mr. Howell spoke up.
"Okay everyone...I would like to have your attention...Ginger please let the man breathe...For crying out loud..."
Everyone laughed as Ginger reluctantly released the Professor from her passionate kiss. She then quickly kissed the Professor again and then she turned to everyone jokingly sticking out her tongue.
"Okay...everyone listen." Mrs. Howell said. "Thurston has something important to say."
"Thank you my dear." He said to his wife. "First I want to congratulate Ginger and Roy on their engagement. I would say it came as a shock but I think we all figured you were having an affair on that island anyway..."
Ginger's eyes went wide and she choked back a laugh. The Professor looked amused and slightly embarrassed.
"But here is to Ginger and to Roy!"
Everyone raised their glasses and then took a sip.
"Now for the really big news..I want you to know that I had purchased our little island."
Ginger turned to the Professor who looked at her in surprise as well. Mary Ann's jaw dropped as did Gilligan's.
"You..purchased the island?" The Skipper said. "Wow."
"Yes did some thinking and I thought...that island is a special place to us all. Yes we wanted to be rescued but we had some real adventures there. And to be honest...sometimes I miss it. So I decided to buy it. Which I did. I of course did some renovations to make it more modern with the times. I want to invite you all out there for a special weekend! And not to worry...we are sailing out on a fine craft and made the necessary provisions...I assure you..we will not get stranded again."
Everyone laughed.
"And I want you all to know..anytime you want to visit the island you are more than welcome. You just let me or Mrs. Howell know..and we will arrange everything for you."
"That's so thoughtful of you." said Ginger. "You are right...I do sometimes miss that little island. We did have some great times."
"We almost broke the kissing record on that island." The Professor whispered to her. She giggled.
"I would love to see it again myself." said Gilligan. "I miss it too. You wouldn't think so but I guess when you've been there for so long...it was almost like home in a way."
"It was." agreed Mary Ann. "Mr. Howell...I can't wait to see what you have done with it."
"I'm so glad you all feel that way." He said joyfully. "We leave for the island in two days. So pack whatever you want and we will set sail..in two days!"
Ginger turned to the Professor. "Can you believe it? We are heading back to the island. And I'm so happy about it."
"Me too. I miss it myself. Gilligan is right. It was almost like home."
He then pulled her closer to him. "However this time.." He said softly to her. "You are sharing a hut with me..."
"Professor Hinkley.." She said with a twinkle in her eye. He responded by placing a kiss on her lips.
The music started again and he lead her back to the dance floor. The island wasn't the only thing that felt like home. Being with Ginger felt that way. He belonged with her. He was only sorry it took him so long to see it.
Well he did now and he wasn't about to let her get away from him. She was going to be his wife and they would have terrific life together. And if any of her Hollywood friends didn't like her marrying him...to hell with them and their attitude. This was the woman he loved. He wasn't about to allow her to slip away.
