GOOD MORNING
Mary Ann slipped out of bed and dressed for the day even though it was still dark outside. As she finished brushing her hair she jumped as she felt hands slowly going around her waist. She closed her eyes as she felt a warm breath on her ear. "Guess who?"
Smiling Mary Ann turned to look into the most beautiful eyes she ever saw, "Could it be the smartest and most handsome man on the island?"
"Hmm, only on this island?"
"Well maybe... the whole world?" slipping her arms around his neck.
"That's better." he whispered as he leaned down to give Mary Ann a tender kiss.
"Good morning. What are you doing up so early? And what is in that basket?" Mary Ann asked when she noticed a basket next to the door.
"We are going on a picnic."
Mary Ann raised an eyebrow, "And what special occasion could it possibly be that we get to have time off to go on a picnic?"
"Well... it could be the very first anniversary to mark the most brilliant accomplishment of my entire life."
"Oh, and what could the most brilliant accomplishment be for a Professor with seven degrees?"
" I married the most beautiful girl in the world."
"Good answer." Mary Ann raised up on her toes to give the Professor a quick kiss.
"And to celebrate the occasion we are going to spend the whole day together."
"Oh Roy I'd like nothing better. It's been so long since we had a whole day just for us."
The Professor looked tenderly into Mary Ann's eyes, "I know. I've missed spending time with you. I love you my Dear."
Mary Ann tenderly gave him a kiss. "I love you Roy."
The Professor asked, "Now where would you like to go first?"
Mary Ann answered almost giddy with excitement, "Anywhere as long as we're together."
The Professor opened the door for Mary Ann to walk through, "Ok, lets go to all our favorite spots. The lagoon first, later when it's warmer to the waterfall and tonight we'll climb to our favorite spot to watch the sunset."
With tears in her eyes she eagerly agrees. "I can't believe it's already our first anniversary. The year went by so fast."
The Professor took Mary Ann's hand as they strolled along the well worn path to the beach. "Yes it has."
They reached the beach just as the sun was coming up. With arms around each other they marveled at the multiple shades of yellows and oranges breaking through the sky.
Mary Ann sighed "I never get tired of watching the sunrise here."
"It is a beautiful place, but anywhere would be paradise as long as I'm with you."
Mary Ann lightly blushed "Who would have thought the great Professor Hinkley would turn out to be such a romantic?"
The Professor kissed Mary Ann, "I never was until I met you."
"Thank you."
Professor raised an eyebrow "For what?"
"Oh just for being you and us having a day together with no one else around. By the way where is everyone?"
"Oh they're busy doing other things somewhere else."
Mary Ann sighs "Not that I don't love them all but I cherish what little time we have for just us."
"Me too." Professor kissed her on the top of the head then stepped away to spread out the blanket on the sand. A fire-pit had been prepared ahead of time with plenty of wood stacked next to it. "How about some breakfast? I'll start a fire and we'll have some coffee and maybe some turtle eggs."
A slight frown came over Mary Ann's face, "Roy could we have something else? My stomach doesn't feel quite right this morning."
Worriedly Professor quickly came back to Mary Ann and placed his hand on her forehead, "Are you all right my Dear? You don't have a fever or anything do you?"
"No Roy, I'm fine. I think it was just that new recipe I tried last night. It didn't quite agree with me, maybe it was a little too rich."
"You're sure?"
"Of course. Maybe just a little fish and fruit this morning, hmm?"
"Anything for you. I'll get some fish out of our trap if you don't mind starting the coffee."
They worked efficiently together and were soon eating their breakfast.
"That was wonderful. I never get tired of your cooking Mary Ann."
Covering a yawn with her hand, "Oh I'm sorry. I guess I'm still a little tired."
The Professor pulled Mary Ann into his arms as he laid down. "We did get up extra early. Let's just take a little rest before we take a swim."
Mary Ann yawned again as she laid her head on his chest. "Mmm maybe just for a minute. "
Before the Professor could say anything else Mary Ann was fast asleep. The Professor gently kissed the top of her head then shut his eyes and was soon asleep.
The Professor woke up and gently slid his arm out from under Mary Ann. He quietly placed the coffee pot on the fire then gathered up all their dishes. After the the dishes were cleaned the Professor made himself a cup of coffee. While he drank his coffee he watched as Mary Ann came awake, "How do you feel?"
Mary Ann smiled at the Professor as she stretched "I feel so much better."
The Professor reached down and took Mary Ann's hands to help her up "Good. How about a swim?"
"Sounds wonderful"
They each grabbed their bathing-suits and went behind some bushes to change. They may be on a deserted island but you never know when one of the other castaways could make an appearance. When the Professor and Mary Ann were getting to know each other, they always seemed to get interrupted by one of the castaways.
After changing the Professor waited for Mary Ann. He watched her walk toward him in her very familiar black bathing-suit. Every time he saw Mary Ann in that suit he thought back to the beauty contest. The contest came about when Ginger became outraged after hearing over the radio that Joni Joan Lankford won a beauty contest. Ginger believed she could have beat Joni even with her tooth blacked out. Skipper immediately agreed and stated they all knew she would have won and made a toast declaring Ginger as the most beautiful castaway in the whole wide world. Mr Howell then stood and firmly made a toast declaring Mrs. Howell to be the most beautiful creature in the world.
The Professor remembered his exact words when he felt compelled to stand for his own toast. "Gentleman, I'm afraid I must inject another opinion here. In addition to beauty of face and figure, there is a lady here who also has sweetness and warmth. The lady I would pick as the most beautiful in the world, Mary Ann." When Mary Ann smiled at him he knew he made a truthful statement, he truly believed in his heart she was the most beautiful and he cared very deeply for her. From the first moment he met her, he had felt drawn to Mary Ann. Now he understood why.
Leave it to Gilligan to come up with the not so great idea of the beauty contest. The women found the idea exciting and immediately agreed to the contest. Skipper helped Ginger, Mr. Howell helped Mrs. Howell and the Professor helped Mary Ann prepare for the contest.
The Professor thought isometric exercise would improve Mary Ann's true beauty of inter-glow of good health. In order to provide isometric exercise the Professor attached a fishing line to her black bathing-suit so she could swim in place. As Mary Ann was swimming Gilligan walked by and thought the Professor had a big fish on the line. Of course he wanted to help and the end result was Mary Ann losing her bathing-suit. It flew in the air and hit the Professor right in the face making him fall down. The Professor and Gilligan both shocked after realizing what happened hurriedly covered their eyes with Gilligan elbowing the Professor. "You go get her." Gilligan then turned and ran off. The Professor hurriedly went to get a towel and helped Mary Ann out of the water. Sometimes he still blushes thinking of her in the lagoon without her bathing-suit.
When Mary Ann walked up close to the Professor she yelled "Race you! And took off running toward the water"
The Professor laughed as he chased after her. Being on the island their swimming skills had greatly improved. The Professor tried to catch Mary Ann but she would laugh and quickly slip out of his hands. They splashed each other and played like a couple of kids without a care in the world. They hadn't had this much fun swimming in such a long time.
Finally tired, they slowly walked out of the water. Mary Ann almost fell on the blanket. "Roy that was so much fun but I'm exhausted."
Professor starts to rub her shoulders and back.
Mary Ann "Mmm, how do I rate a massage?"
"You deserve it. You work so hard and never complain no matter what comes our way. Being marooned would be unbearable without you here. I don't believe you have ever had a full day off since our honeymoon."
Mary Ann chuckled, "Yeah, and when we got back you would have thought everyone was starving to death. I knew they weren't great cooks but I thought they could survive for a couple of weeks. It's a good thing I enjoy cooking. But I do have to admit I'm loving having a day off with just the two of us and I don't feel guilty at all."
"I have to admit, I'm glad I didn't have to do without your cooking skills for those two weeks...It's getting a little warm now. How about we have lunch then go to the waterfall?"
"Sounds wonderful. What's for lunch, I'm starved?"
Professor stood up and started toward the water "There might be a couple crabs in the trap."
"Oh that sounds perfect."
While the Professor cooked the crab, Mary Ann cut up a papaya and pitaya or dragon fruit as some people called it.
After eating Mary Ann slipped her dress over her bathing suit and the Professor put on his shirt and they gathered up their basket and blanket. Professor took Mary Ann's hand as they headed toward the waterfall.