WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE

"Quack, Quack!"

"Ribbit, Ribbit!"

Willy Gilligan walked from his hut carrying his new pal, a small green frog. Gretchen, his old duck Emily's daughter, followed.

"Hi, Skipper! I'm taking Herman and Gretchen for a swim," he told his big buddy who was seated at the table.

"Gilligan..." the Skipper wanted to get rid of his little buddy's pets, but then Gilligan would argue that they were his friends, and both would storm off again. It was now three nights since Gilligan had found Herman, and the Skipper wasn't sleeping much, but he was keeping quiet — for now.

"Yeah, big buddy! Want to join us?"

"No, Gilligan, I think I'm going to take a nap," Skipper said, and let out a great big yawn.

"We just got up a couple hours ago; are you sick, Skipper?" Gilligan asked, and Herman croaked.

"No Gilligan, I am sick of your friends keeping me up with their noises. I know you like your animals, little buddy, but they are driving me crazy," Skipper said. He put his head down to avoid Gilligan's sad look, and quickly disappeared into their hut.

"Wow, you two gotta be more quiet," Gilligan scolded the animals, but they just quacked and croaked loudly. "That's not helping Herman! You're no angel either, Gretchen," Gilligan told them and sighed. He hated making any of his friends unhappy, but he had no idea what to do.

"I could let you two go in the lagoon, if you promise to return," he told them. Just then, Herman wiggled free from Gilligan's grip and hopped off. Gretchen followed, and it took Gilligan a few minutes to catch them. "So much for that idea! I like you both! I know — I'll ask the Professor; he always knows what to do," Gilligan decided, and carried both animals to the scientist's hut.

The Professor shook his head, not sure what to tell his friend. "I suppose you could build them their own home. They both love the water, why not build a trough?" he suggested.

"Where do I keep it though? The Skipper doesn't want them in the hut but I can't just let them go, I like Herman and Gretchen," Gilligan said.

"You go work on the trough. I'll try and figure out a place for our small friends."

"Thanks, Professor. I'm glad you got shipwrecked with us," Gilligan said, and Professor smiled.

"Your welcome, Gilligan," he said, and Gilligan darted off, happy, as always. "I think that was a compliment — that man is sure one of a kind," Professor muttered, when Gilligan was out of earshot. A man of his word though, he started thinking about the animal's new home.

XXX

The Skipper crawled out of his bed a good two hours later, feeling more energized. "GILLIGAN!" he called out, but after a few seconds, when his little buddy didn't answer, he went out to search for the young man. He found him by the lagoon, building the trough.

"What are you doing now Gilligan?"

"Hi. Skipper! I'm building a new home for Herman and Gretchen and giving you back your silence," he said, and the Skipper smiled.

"Thank you, Gilligan. I know you mean well, but your pets are just so noisy..." he tried to explain.

Gilligan just grinned at his friend.

"I know, Skipper. Now I solve both problems! I can keep my friends, and you can get a good night's sleep, big buddy!" "There, all done," Gilligan strung the last piece of bamboo pole in place. It really did look like a trough... the kind you would find on a farm.

"Good work, Gilligan; now we need to line it so there aren't any leaks — your friends do like to swim, you know."

XXX

Another hour passed, and the two carried the trough into camp.

"There you are, Gilligan! The girls and I put this small shade up for your friends," the Professor greeted them, and led them to the frog and duck's new home. He had put four three foot high bamboo poles into the ground. Stretched across them were palm branches.

"Wow, Professor! Thanks, girls!" Gilligan said happily. The girls smiled as he and the Skipper put the new trough under the small hut. Gilligan and the girls got buckets and filled it with water. Herman and Gretchen jumped in immediately and started to swim.

"They like it, Skipper!" Gilligan said happily.

XXX

That night, Skipper snored peacefully as Gilligan climbed out of his hammock and exited his hut. The animals still looked peaceful in their new home.

Dear Diary,
I gots a new pet. Herman the froggie. Gretchen liks him I thnk. I bilted them a tub outsid, they lik it. I wondar if my mum will lik them. hop I can show her suun.
Gilligan