By the time the Skipper had returned with the Professor, the little girl had worn herself out with crying and screaming. Doris continued to hold the little girl, who was now glassy eyed and sniffling. Doris said not a word to her, but rocked her back and forth. Jolani, though frightened and traumatized over the attack on her island, was beginning to feel very calm in the older woman's arms. Her mother had been correct in assuming this island was inhabited by caring people. This time, when the Skipper entered the hut, she didn't move a muscle. She assumed that this man was the nice woman's husband. He was a large man, but his eyes looked soft and he spoke tenderly to the woman.
"Everything alright now, Doris?" He had asked. He had looked directly at this woman whose name was Doris, but he didn't even acknowledge her, Jolani thought to herself. Perhaps the man didn't like children. Perhaps he thought her an intrusion. Another man, a smaller and slightly younger man followed in behind the one the woman had called Mr. Skipper.
"So, I see you are awake now. How are you feeling?" The Professor asked Jolani. Jolani just stared at him, studying his face for any sign of trickery.
"Are you from America?" Jolani asked timidly, "you are white and speak English like my father did."
"Your father is an American?" The Professor asked.
"Yes. He came from a place called Minnesota," Jolani explained. "My father is a missionary. He lived on our island for ten years. He had light hair, like Mr. Skipper... but my mother fell in love with him anyway. She always said being older made him wiser. She was one of his first converts. They studied the Bible together all of the time, then found they loved each other. The other minister who came with father married them and I was born two years later. They're all dead now... mother, father, Rev. Olsen, my school teacher, the doctor, and all of my tribe. The God Wars happened. I prayed they wouldn't... I... I wish..." Jolani began to tear up again. Doris held her once again.
"It's alright, you don't have to tell us anything unless you want to, ok?" Doris said, looking at the child and stroking her face. Jolani slowly nodded her head. "Do you want something to eat?" Doris asked. Jolani shook her head, declining the offer.
The Professor and the Skipper stepped back out of the hut so they could talk to each other.
"That poor thing's been through a terrible lot, hasn't she?" The Skipper asked.
"Indeed she has," the Professor said, taking his hand away from his chin. "I have a book in my hut about island tribes, but I'm not sure how helpful it will be. The girl said her father had been there ten years. I assume that's when the trouble started on her island. People are very stubborn and fickle about their beliefs. Those that are multi-theists in particular have been known to torture and kill those who come with opposing views. Anyway, my point being, my book is copywritten 1956. Perhaps at the time it was written, there was no threat. Perhaps these people lived in harmony with each other. I can only assume a "God War" is like a crusade, and her people were slaughtered for not turning back to their former gods."
"That's awful!" The Skipper exclaimed, "what do you think we should do? I mean, if that canoe is sea worthy, I can row to the girl's island and assess the situation... see if there are any survivors."
"You know, that is not a bad idea," the Professor said, "I don't mean to sound selfish, but there is the slight possibility you may find a transmitter. I'm sure the little girl's father probably had contact with the outside world. Whoever sponsored his mission trip would certainly have wanted progress reports to see if his efforts were effective."
"You know, you've got something there," the Skipper said, clapping the Professor on the shoulder.
"In the meantime, that little girl is going to need quite a bit of attention. I trust you and Doris will be taking care of her physical and emotional needs?" The Professor assumed.
The Skipper swallowed hard. He had no problem with the young girl taking refuge in their hut... he just wasn't sure he liked the idea of showing her affection. If he were honest with himself, the idea made him feel downright guilty. He knew full well that reaching out to the little one wouldn't change his love for Johnny. He would always love Johnny. What bothered him was the warm and peaceful feeling it gave him when he thought about caring for that little girl. He just felt he didn't deserve to feel happy while his son ,whom he never got to know, lay in the ground.
...
"Sweetheart, if I may ask, what is your name?" Doris asked the little girl, as she rubbed her back. Jolani looked up at Doris with wide eyes.
"Jolani Hansen," she replied quietly.
"You have a beautiful name, Jolani. I'm Doris Grumby and the man I called Mr. Skipper is my husband, Captain Jonas Grumby. You are welcomed to stay with us. Whatever you need, just let us know. I don't know fully what's happened to you, but I do know it's horrible. I know you are going to need someone to depend on. I'm here for you, Jolani," Doris replied.
"Thank you, ma'am. My mother... my mother told me that she prayed a long time... to find an island to send me to," Jolani said, staring at her hands. "I didn't want to go. I begged daddy to let me stay." Her tears fell once again, her heart breaking nearly in two. "He said it was for my safety."
"I'm sure it was hard for your parents to send you away," Doris explained, "when you love someone, sometimes you have to make decisions that are in the best interest of the one you love, even when it is the most difficult decision you have to make."
"I know, I just miss them. Daddy told me that him and mommy would be watching over me. Do you think they can see me, Miss Doris?" Jolani asked.
"I'm sure of it," Doris replied. Doris realized that if she believed that about Jolani's parents, there was no reason not to believe the same about Johnny. If Johnny could see her from Heaven, it would be a shame if he saw a woman, his mother, constantly in sorrow. The love she would have poured out for her son, now needed to be directed toward this little girl. It didn't mean she loved Johnny any less, but she didn't have the ability to show that love with her actions. Never could she hold Johnny, but she could hug Jolani. She couldn't teach, train, comfort, or tend to Johnny's physical needs, but Jolani needed plenty of care... and she was willing to give it. Jolani wasn't a replacement for Johnny, but she definitely was a way to honor her son's memory. Doris was going to do whatever it took to help this little girl heal, and perhaps in time she would begin to heal herself.
...
"Come on, Gilligan!" The Skipper shouted. "Help me get these bamboo poles back to my hut."
"What are we doing again?" Gilligan asked, straining to look over the stack of poles he was holding.
"We're building a bed for the little girl. I've got a feeling she's going to be with us for quite a long time," the Skipper explained.
"So you say her parents were killed?"
"Well, that's what I assume from the little bit she told us . The poor little thing, I can't imagine what awful things she must have seen."
"Well, at least she's safe now."
"She may be safe, but she's going to be very disturbed for a long time. For right now, Doris and I have assumed the role as her caregivers. I don't know how to take care of a little girl... especially one who has been traumatized. What do I do if she starts crying or getting upset?"
"I don't know, hug her? Make her feel better?"
"I could of thought of that, Gilligan. Oh, thanks anyway though. I guess Doris and I will figure it out. Come on, we don't have much daylight left to get this done."
As Gilligan and the Skipper approached the hut, he could hear the sound of Doris' voice. It sounded like she was telling the little girl a story. He peeked in the window and saw Doris in the rocking chair he had built for her and Johnny, but instead, the little girl was in her lap. While far from looking happy, both seemed to appear to be contented with each other's company. The Skipper held mixed emotions. Part of this scene tugged at his heart strings and it did him good to see his wife not crying. The other part of him was enraged that Doris would take to this little girl so soon after their son's death. He tried his best to remember that this little one desperately needed their help. He sighed, calming himself, as he entered the hut with the supplies he needed.
...
Jolani's bed had been finished that evening, just in time for her to go to bed. Doris had encouraged Jolani to have some supper with them. While still too grieved to be hungry, her parents had always taught her to be respectful to her elders. So Jolani came out to the table to dine with her "new" family. She was a bit overwhelmed by all the faces, all of them having the same skin tone as her father. The Skipper had explained to her that a little over six years ago, they had been taking a pleasure cruise around the Hawaiian islands when a terrible storm had shipwrecked them on the island. Doris had explained how she had been there just shy of a year, and a storm had torn her little boat apart. All the others had greeted her, but didn't say much. They didn't want to hound her with questions. Jolani studied their faces. They all seemed kind. The one they called Gilligan was funny, as he sat at the table and played "peek-a-boo" with his daughter. The one called the Professor was quiet, serious, and full of big words she didn't quite understand. Ginger, was glamorous and full of stories about a place called Hollywood. It seemed her career had something to do with standing in front of a camera. Her father had mentioned movie's before, but Jolani hadn't ever seen one, of course. She quite couldn't fathom what it would be like to view one. Mary Ann had a sweet, soft voice and kept asking her if she wanted more food. Mr. and Mrs. Howell must have been royalty... they had to be. Never in all her life had she seen such finely dressed people with such refined manners. Mr. Howell seemed sly and businesslike. Mrs. Howell was sweet and spoke very articulately and tenderly to Jolani, when requesting what her name was. The Skipper was a strange one. Most of the time he ate in silence, but then Gilligan would say something to humor him and he suddenly became jovial. He had a loud, boisterous, but very infectious laugh. Jolani decided she liked this Mr. Skipper after all.
After dinner, Doris had helped her to bath and found a shirt for her to wear as pajamas. Doris listened to her say her prayers and then tucked her into the bed. Much to Jolani's surprise, Doris had kissed her on the forehead.
"Good night Jolani. Sweet dreams to you. Now, if you need anything, the Skipper and I will be just a few feet away," she instructed.
"Is Mr. Skipper going to kiss me good night?" Jolani asked.
"I'll go see," Doris said, as she walked over to her husband.
"She wants you to kiss her good night," Doris whispered.
"Can't she do without it?" The Skipper whispered back.
"Jonas," Doris hissed, "what's wrong with you? She's just a little girl... and she needs our comfort."
"Doris, you don't understand. I think I'm developing a soft spot for that little girl... it makes me feel guilty. I just buried my son, what right do I have to have any sort of good feelings? By rights, I should feel inconsolable."
"You know, Jonas, I feel the same way. Why yesterday, Gilligan was playing patty-cake with Grace and I smiled before I knew what I was doing. I felt terrible about that little bit of joy. I know it sounds silly, but I couldn't help it. This is different though. That little girl needs to be loved. I think about the pain we went through with losing Johnny, can you imagine how she feels? My pain makes me want to be compassionate she she can be comforted."
The Skipper sighed, knowing that Doris was right he walked over to the small bed and kissed Jolani on the forehead.
"Good night, Jolani. Sleep well." He said flatly.
"Will you tell me a story?" She asked.
"No, it's getting late. Go to sleep now. Perhaps Doris will tell you a story in the morning." The Skipper turned away to return to his chair when he heard Jolani's small voice.
"Thank you for everything, Mr. Skipper. God bless you."
The Skipper gave a half smile, "you're very welcome."