Mary Ann smiled as she looked on at her husband. There stood Gilligan, tall and proud, at the wheel of the S.S. Mary Ann. Her heart began to swell with pride. He was completely focused on the task at hand... not letting anything distract him... not even the song of the sea gulls that were hovering over head. He looked strong, mature, and determined. The wind tousled his salt and pepper strands of hair that stuck out from the Captain's hat that the Skipper had given to him that morning.
Mary Ann recalled their early years... a shy and naive farm girl and a young and bumbling First Mate. They were just kids then, really. It was that boyish charm that had first drawn her. He was so optimistic, so full of excitement... even when he made mistakes, he had been well meaning. He had never purposely screwed up. He had always tried to put the others first, even when it meant putting himself in danger.
Mary Ann recalled how they were now. Though still lovable and kind, there was a seriousness to Gilligan that just didn't seem like him. His optimism had waned somehow. Instead of being carefree, his mind was filled with being Captain of his own ship, taking care of the children, and paying the bills. Mary Ann sighed. Isn't this what she had always wanted? After all, she didn't want to be married to a man-child, which was her original fear before the two of them had ever gotten together. He was an excellent husband, an excellent father, an excellent provider, and an excellent Captain. She just wished that he would be a little less... tense. Just the other day, he had gotten on to the girls to turn their radio down. That "blasted Disco" was getting on his nerves. Though Mary Ann had to admit she didn't care for it either, she could recall the times when it had been Mr. Howell and the Skipper yelling at Gilligan to turn down his "blasted Rock and Roll". Perhaps Gilligan was just nervous about this trip. After all, the last time they had been this far out to sea, they had all shipwrecked... and for the most part it had been his fault for not securing the anchor to the ship when he had tossed it out.
She made her way over to Gilligan, caressing his shoulders with her slender hands. "Fine day for sailing, ain't so?" She had said.
"A very fine day," Gilligan said, as he steered one handed, grasping one of Mary Ann's hands with the other, "glad you're enjoying the trip."
"Oh, you know me... there's just something I can't resist about a mighty sailing man," Mary Ann teased, as she whispered directly in his ear. Instead of warming up to her, he sort of shrugged away.
"Come on, Mary Ann, I'm trying to steer," he said flatly.
"Well, what's wrong with you?" Mary Ann said, not being able to hide the hurt.
"Mary Ann, I'm sorry. I'm just a little nervous... that's all. The Skipper is putting me in charge of this whole expedition, which means I've got to be the Skipper. I guess the Skipper it going to be Co-Skipper, or something. It also doesn't help that Mrs. Howell doesn't have any faith in me to do the job."
"Gilligan, what are you talking about?"
"Oh, you know..."Gilligan will always be a First Mate to me. The Skipper is Captain in my book", Gilligan replied as he quoted Mrs. Howell.
"Oh Darling, you shouldn't take that to heart. You know Mrs. Howell isn't well. Poor Mr. Howell is so worried, and so scared. I"m sure Mrs. Howell is scared herself, not knowing or understanding what's happening to her. If it happens again... just please, play along. I'm sure her making that comment was some sort of validation for the changes going on inside her mind. Perhaps she was frustrated that she didn't remember that you had become a Captain. Gilligan... she needs our love and support. Don't let her words offend you."
"Mary Ann, you're absolutely right. She just made a mistake. How could I not love and support Mrs. Howell? She was like a mother to me the entire time we were on that island. She and Mr. Howell have always helped us out when we've needed it, and they been wonderful to our kids," Gilligan said with a wide grin. Mary Ann smiled herself, for in that moment, Gilligan portrayed that same boyish face she had always found so adorable.
...
"Tea, Honey?" Doris asked as she handed her husband a glass of iced tea. He nodded as he thanked her and then downed the refreshing liquid.
"Boy, that was good," he said as he swiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"How is it going?" Doris asked before sipping her own drink. "The skies look bright and clear... do you think we're making good time?"
"We're making excellent time, Sweetheart," he said, draping an arm around Doris. He gave her a quick kiss before focusing back on the sea.
"My, my, if we aren't a regular Don Juan," Doris teased.
"I want to do more than that," he said, lowering his voice this time. "In all honesty... I wish I was more like the Professor."
"Now why would you want to be like him?"
"Look at them over there," the Skipper said, drawing attention to the Professor and Ginger, who were currently locked into a record breaking kiss. Ginger's hands began to wander, so Doris quickly looked away and began to blush. "I guarantee you once we get to the island we won't see the two of them at least three fourths of the week."
"Well I'm happy for them," Doris stated, "besides, I wouldn't want to trade places with them for all the pineapple in Hawaii. Look at what all they've been through. I would never want to go through something like that with you Jonas... I would never want to be separated from you for one single, solitary day. I would never want that fear of wondering if you were in love with another. There life has definitely not been a bed of roses. They deserve this time of renewed romance."
"I know, Doris, I know," the Skipper said, ashamed of himself, "I guess I don't want to trade places with the Professor after all. I don't think I could stand having to share you with the rest of the world, or you being away from me weeks on end. I don't think I could stand our whole life being in the public eye... I just...I just want you to know how much I love you. I want you to be certain that you are cherished and desired. I always want you to remember me as your best friend, and your finest lover."
"Jonas, what is going on with you? Why are you talking this way? You sound like you're going to die or something." Doris said, with a hand on her hip.
"Who knows? I might. Just because the doctors have ruled out cancer, it doesn't mean that something else isn't seriously wrong with me."
"I know that," Doris exclaimed, "but I'm so grateful that it's not cancer. I guess I didn't stop to think that it could be anything worse... which I'm choosing to believe that it's not."
"You know how tired I've been," the Skipper exclaimed, "Doris, I haven't told you... but Sam's been doing all of the heavy lifting around the Islander... I'm just too weak Haven't you also noticed that I hit the sack just a little bit earlier every night?."
"It could just be that you're getting older too. Perhaps we should both clean up our diets a bit, and maybe take to walking of an evening. Well... it couldn't hurt us anyway. Besides that, we live in such a gorgeous neighborhood. Our view is absolutely spectacular."
"I suppose... if that is what you really want to do. Yet, the doctor says there is something going on. You heard him... not a trance of cancer, yet abnormal lab tests. I'm thinking my body never got rid of all that hornet's venom... that some how it permanently poisoned my body."
"I guess that's possible... after all, things like Lyme disease are treatable, but once the damage is done, it's done," Doris said, "I wouldn't worry though. I have complete faith in God that you are going to be fine and you'll die at a ripe old age... happy and completely fulfilled. No matter what happens, I'm right beside you... and so is the Lord. He sees everything, knows everything... even our future."
"You're a good woman, Doris Grumby. Thank you for the reminder. I guess I knew that all along... but sometimes it's so easy to forget, and so easy to get discouraged. I've been strong as an ox my whole life, except for that period of time after that hornet's sting. It's just hard to admit I can't handle quite the load I was used to."
"Honey, don't sweat it. Just because you're not as strong as you used to be and just because you're more tired doesn't mean that you're dying. You still have a very normal appetite and a very normal complexion... those are very good signs. Who knows? Maybe your body is just aching for your second home... perhaps this trip will be the best thing in the world for you. It might do you some good for you and the other fellas to get in some fishing, or perhaps it might be beneficial for you to take early morning trips down to the waterfall... like you used to do, it will also be nice to snack on fresh, organic fruit... our household eats way too much junk! I think all our prepackaged modern conveniences are turning us into slugs. If we're not careful, Little Debbie and Dolly Madison are going to lure us to a Triple Bypass."
"You preach almost as well as Brother Hoshima," the Skipper said with a grin.
"You awful thing!" Doris said as she swatted him playfully. "Now you see? You just have to be fine to be in such good spirits!"
"Alright, you win! I get the picture!" The Skipper said with a smile on his face. It brought joy to Doris' heart to see him smile... yet, deep down inside, she herself wondered if her husband was truly all right.
...
"Gilligan! Oh Gilligan, dear boy! Please bring me another Mimosa!" Mrs. Howell stated as she waved her hand in Jimmy's direction. Jimmy huffed in frustration, then immediately plastered a smile on his face.
"Yes, Mrs. Howell! Right away Mrs. Howell!" He said obediently. Walking behind the little bar, he quickly threw the drink together. To make it a bit more festive, he popped a little plastic umbrella into the top of the drink. He carefully carried the glass on a saucer, also placing a napkin beside it. The Howells were very important people, Jimmy knew. He had to put his very best foot forward to impress them. If they were impressed... perhaps his boss would be impressed with him too. He so craved Gilligan's favor.
It's not that Gilligan was ever mean to him. He was just the opposite. He for the most part was kind and understanding. Sometimes his Captain would sigh in his frustrations, then speak calmly... telling Jimmy to just be more careful next time. Although his Captain's patience was nice, he was also extremely jealous of the friendship that his Captain held with Captain Grumby. Although Jimmy had heard the stories of how rough and tough the older Captain had been on his boss, Jimmy felt he wouldn't have minded the same treatment... that is, the discipline would have been well worth it just to be deemed someone's "Little Buddy". What a nice name! Jimmy had always thought.
I wished I was Captain Gilligan's "Little Buddy". We put in a days work, sometimes have our lunch together, and all I get is a "See you tomorrow". A tear nearly slipped down his cheek as he thought this. How he would have loved to be invited into Captain Gilligan's life, asked to go bowling or out to dinner or weekend cookouts like he knew Gilligan, the Skipper, and Sam had... but he never was. Or perhaps, his Captain may have thought he just wasn't interested. After all, Jimmy spent much of his free time driving his mother here and there. He took care of her and looked out for her. He was judge and jury when it came to his mother's gentlemen callers. They had to pass his approval before he would agree to warm up to them. Jimmy felt it only right, being that his father just up and left them. He had "fallen out of love" he said. Jimmy had always thought this preposterous, since his mother had always done everything she could to give her husband a happy and loving atmosphere. Jimmy shook his thoughts aside as he focused on carefully delivering Mrs. Howell's drink.
"Here you go Mrs. Howell," he said in a chipper tone.
"Thank you, dear Jimmy. I apologize for calling you Gilligan," she said as she took a sip, "you even make a better Mimosa than Gilligan... but don't tell him I told you... the boy would be terribly hurt! Although, you do look like the dear lad from a distance! Such a fine boy you are!" She replied once again as she patted his cheek.
"Are the two of you enjoying the trip?" He asked eagerly.
"My goodness, yes! You couldn't have bought more beautiful weather!" Mr. Howell replied as he enveloped Lovey's hand. "I must admit that Gilligan is a fine Captain! He's a very fine Captain indeed! Every bit as good as the Skipper... and you my boy are a fine First Mate!"
"Well... thank you Mr. Howell," Jimmy said, not being able to hide his blushing, "that's quite an honor coming from you."
"You know, I have a couple of yachts back home that could use skillful crew like yourself... that is, if you are interested," Mr. Howell offered.
"Thurston! That's not fair! That's Gilligan's First Mate... you can't just steal him away!" Mrs. Howell protested.
"Lovey, I am not stealing him... I'm making him an offer... it's completely up to him whether he wants to accept. Gilligan says he's a klutz... but I see contrary to that. He's doing a fine job!" A lump formed in Jimmy's throat as he heard Mr. Howell speak these words. He knew he was a "klutz"... but for Gilligan to share that with his close friends... Jimmy felt hurt and betrayed.
"I'll... I'll certainly think about it," Jimmy replied, "thank you for the kind offer."
...
Ginger and the Professor stood looking out at the ocean. Suddenly, the Professor reached over and took his wife's hand into his. Ginger lovingly glanced his way as he smiled at her.
"I love you, Ginger... I always will."
"Darling, I love you too."
"Who would have thought that all those years ago when we met that we would be a family today? I do feel as though the Creator of the Universe brought about that Meteorological disaster in order to confine us to the point where we would have to get acquainted with one another."
"Oh Roy! Such big words!" Ginger said with a giggle. "It's a good thing that I've known you long enough to realize that you meant it was God's will for the shipwreck to happen. It was also his will that we weren't rescued right away.'
"Indubitably!" He said, kissing her lightly on the lips. "I can't believe I was so blind... it's not that I never believed in God, or wasn't sure about a God... I just simply didn't give him much thought. I sort of believed that there was a reasonable answer for everything. Well... there is a reasonable answer for everything. Science is... well, I'm looking at it much differently now. While some people use science to disprove God, I see it as a way to strengthen my faith. All the things in the universe that puzzle me are completely clear to the Almighty. He is the greatest Physicist, Botanist, Chemist, Astronomist, Geologist,Biologist... and the list goes on."
"Honey, I'm very impressed with your new faith. I don't know if I could ever have that much faith. I think I would be tempted to overthink the facts... besides, there is so much bad in the world... and it's only getting worse. Why? Why does it happen?" Ginger asked.
"From what I've been told... the Earth is cursed. Not only do people's sinful ways effect other's... but the Earth as a whole suffers from our disobedience... the wind, the waves, the animals, and the whole ecosystem are in rebellion to God... all because Adam and Eve listened to the serpent who tried to promise them more, when God gave them everything."
"They should have known better," Ginger said, as she made a face.
"Ah.. my dear, if it hadn't been them, it would have been someone else. We all crave more. We all get unsatisfied once in awhile. We all get that feeling like we've been cheated. I do believe that Adam and Eve and the Forbidden Fruit is our first example of "the grass is greener on the other side" syndrome... it was a trap I nearly fell into. I was restless and unsatisfied with the way our relationship was going... I nearly messed that up. God willing, I'll never do that again. God knew what he was doing when He gave you and the children. God knows what's good for me... I always don't."
"I guess God knew what was good for me too," Ginger replied, "I suppose our difficulties were God's way of showing me that I was being a puppet. The whole time you were away, I would cry myself to sleep every night... wondering how I could have chosen my career over my family. Well, now I am rid of Lonnie and I'm gonna chose what projects I do and don't do. If it can't be shot in a studio on a day to day basis... I don't want it! I'm never gonna spend weeks or months from my family again! Besides that... I'm little curious about this church stuff... I can count on one hand the number of times I've been."
"Darling, you won't regret it... I know I sure haven't."
*Sorry for taking so long to update this story. I know I am writing others... but this is the one I'm most passionate about. I can feel a certain fellow writer out there is praying for me, because I have had writer's block for months. Thank you.*