RESCUE
As Mary Ann woke, she couldn't remember ever feeling so tired. Everyday seemed to get worse. She just laid on the lounger and let the memories flow.
The happiness Mary Ann felt when the castaways were finally rescued off the island after five long years. A plane had finally spotted them. It wasn't a signal fire that the plane had spotted but the fire the Professor had built high on a cliff on his and Mary Ann's anniversary. Two days later the Cost Guard landed on the island.
Gilligan had been fishing as usual when he looked out over the water and spotted a Coast Guard boat. Typical Gilligan, he took off running to tell everyone. He streaked by Mr. and Mrs. Howell as they were resting in their loungers.
"We're rescued! We're rescued!"
Lifting his hat off his head, Mr. Howell turned to his wife and asked what Gilligan was yelling about this time.
"I believe he said something about being rescued."
Placing his hat low enough to cover his eyes Mr. Howell grumpily mumbled, "Well can't we get rescued without him yelling about it?"
Mrs. Howell patted his arm, "Yes dear."
Mary Ann and the Professor stepped out of the supply hut to see what Gilligan was yelling about this time and the Skipper was at the communal table helping Ginger rehearse one of her plays.
After Gilligan realized he had ran past everyone, he stopped and ran back.
"Skipper, Skipper we're rescued. The Coast Guard is here."
Skipper rolled his eyes, "Just like we were rescued a couple of weeks ago?"
Ginger set her script down, "What happened a couple of weeks ago?"
"Well eagle eye here and I were fishing when he thought he spotted a boat. He got all excited and kept yelling at it. He dropped his fishing pool and we almost lost it. Come to find out, it was only a tree from the last storm floating in the water."
Gilligan still tried to convince the Skipper, "It's a real boat this time Skipper. Come and see."
"Gilligan if it's a real boat then invite the crew here since it's almost dinner time."
"All right I will." With that Gilligan turned around and determinedly walked back to the lagoon.
Everyone just shook their head and returned to what they were doing before Gilligan's interruption.
As everyone gathered around the table and Mary Ann was placing their dinner down Gilligan led four Coasties to meet the castaways.
Seeing it was dinner time, Gilligan sat down and started to fill his plate. "Sit down guys. Mary Ann is the best cook."
Everyone stared in shock until the Captain spoke. This was real, they were finally going home. Everyone came to life and started talking all at once while the men patted the Coasties on the back and shook their hands. Ginger and Mary Ann gave them all big hugs.
"We're from the SS Minnow."
"I can't believe we're finally going home."
"We've been stranded for 5 years."
"Hollywood here I come."
"Finally Wall-street again."
"Hot dog."
"Forget hot-dogs, think a big fat juicy steak."
Since it was late, the Coast Guard Captain decided they would spend the night on the island and leave at first light. Everyone was so excited they didn't get much sleep. Mr. Howell broke out his last bottles of bubbly that he had hidden. Mrs. Howell was in such a tizzy about how she was ever going to pack all their trunks. Luckily Mary Ann volunteered to help her and they had it completed in record time. While the Professor made sure all his papers on his research and experiments were packed it only took a minute for Mary Ann to pack her and the Professors cloths. After five years most of their cloths were threadbare and not fit to wear. Mary Ann also packed their Conch shells. The shell was the first thing the Professor gave her and she treasured it. They were only used if one of the castaways went to the other side of the island. If they ran into trouble they would signal the rest of the castaways by blowing on the shell.
Sun-up found the castaways waving goodbye to their island. They were ecstatic to be going home but a little sad to say goodbye to their home for the past five years. Coming into Honolulu harbor they were welcomed by crowds of people, to include multiple news reporters, a band and even the Governor. What a shock that was, to be surrounded by so many people after such isolation. So many people were talking at once, the band was playing and the traffic noise seemed to come from everywhere. The noise level was almost unbearable after the peace and quiet of the island.
Of course they stayed at Mr. Howell's grand hotel and even gave a news conference that night, after they cleaned up of course. Mrs. Howell arranged for new cloths to be delivered for all of the castaways within the hour of arriving at the hotel. A hairstylist and a make-up artist also came to the hotel.
Ohhh that first warm shower was heaven, but Mary Ann and the Professor had to hurry through it. They wanted to get to the court house before it closed to get a marriage license. They were legally married by the Skipper on the island but they wanted it to be legal in the States. Bless Mrs. Howell, how she did it they would never know, but she arraigned a complete wedding and reception for the happy couple for the very next day.
Mr. Howell had his private plane pick up the castaways families and had them flown to Hawaii by the next morning. Even though the Professor and Mary Ann's parents attended the wedding, Mr. and Mrs. Howell sat next to them as honorary parents. Skipper and Gilligan stood up with the Professor and of course Ginger was Maid of Honor. Mary Ann was sure as beautiful as Ginger was, she would out-shine her at her own wedding but that didn't matter. Mary Ann only cared about marrying Roy and he only had eyes for her.
The castaways spent a week in Hawaii to rest and visit with family but they did give a couple interviews. Thankfully Mary Ann didn't have to speak much because the whole situation was a little overwhelming for her. Mr. Howell and Ginger did most of the speaking since they were so used to being in the spotlight. Mary Ann was so proud of Roy as he explained what it entailed for their survival on a deserted island for five years.
The castaways flew to multiple cities for a whirlwind of interviews. After an interview in Denver, Mary Ann started to stand up but became dizzy and had to grab onto her husband's arm. He instantly wrapped his arms around her so she wouldn't fall.
"My dear are you alright?"
"Sorry Roy. I guess I stood up too quickly and got a little light headed."
The Professor picked up his wife and carried her backstage to lay her down on a couch. Ginger ran and got Mary Ann a glass of water while everyone gathered around concerned.
"Roy I'm fine. I just felt a little light headed, it's just from the high altitude."
Ginger handed the professor the glass of water. He lifted Mary Ann up slightly and held the glass for her to take a few sips.
"No you're not fine. You've been so tired lately that you almost fell asleep during dinner last night."
"It's all the traveling, it's making me tired, that's all."
Worriedly Ginger asked, "Mary Ann you're never tired. You're always a ball of energy."
The Professor continued, "You're stomach has also been upset for the last couple of weeks too."
"You've been sick Mary Ann?"
"Oh Mrs. Howell it's just all the rich food we've been eating lately. My stomach has been a little upset but only for a few minutes in the morning. After I have a cup of tea and a piece of dry toast I feel much better. I'm fine. Really."
Mrs. Howell and Ginger now understood what the problem was. As they looked at each other they tried not to smile. "Of course you are dear." Mrs. Howell sympathized.
"And to make sure you are fine, first thing in the morning I am taking you to the doctor." the Professor insisted.
"I think that is the best thing for you to do Mary Ann." Ginger said while trying not to laugh.
"OK, OK, I'll go just to make you all feel better, but I'm telling you I'm fine. I'm feeling much better now, so can we go to our room?"
"Of course my dear." the Professor helped his wife up but kept his arm around her all the way to their room.
"Skipper I'm worried about Mary Ann. Do you think she'll be ok?"
"I'm sure she'll be just fine Gilligan." Skipper said slightly worried himself.
Mrs. Howell and Ginger couldn't hold in their laughter any longer.
"Don't worry Gilligan, our Mary Ann will be just fine in no time at all." Mrs. Howell insisted
The next day the castaways were meeting for lunch with Mary Ann and the Professor the last to arrive. As they walked toward the rest of the castaways Mary Ann had a huge smile on her face while the Professor looked in shock.
As the Professor and Mary Ann came to the table, Mr. Howell leaned forward, "I say Professor you look stunned, are you all right?"
The Professor gave a weak smile while Mary Ann laughed, "He'll be fine Mr. Howell, he's just in shock. He just found out he is going to be a father."
Everyone jumped up with excitement. Mary Ann received a hug from everyone while the men slapped the Professor on the back.
"Congratulations!"
"Good show old man."
"Wow!"
Another week of interviews and the castaways had to say goodbye to each other and finally begin their new lives. After living with each other for five years it was much harder than they ever thought it would be. Since Mr. and Mrs. Howell wanted to be close to their soon to be grandchild they bought a house not ten minutes away from the the Professor and Mary Ann. Of course Ginger went back to Hollywood. Skipper and Gilligan decided to relocate to California to be close to their castaway family. Everyone might have gone their own way, but they made sure they were all close enough to visit each other.
Time flew by and the Professor and Mary Ann welcomed their first born Russell. They didn't think they could be any happier but were soon blessed three more times with John, Dawn and Ann. They were so proud of them all. With Mr. and Mrs. Howell close by the children saw them often and loved their "grandparents" as much as their parents did. The Professor and Mary Ann couldn't believe Russell became CEO of Howell Industries after Mr. Howell retired. Mr. Howell was so proud of him. John followed in Skipper and Gilligan's footsteps and joined the Navy, retiring as a Rear Admiral. He was gone so much and the family missed him terribly but the sea was in his blood. Dawn became an author and wrote several books. She even wrote several screenplays that Ginger's production company produced. And last but not least their little Annie followed in her father's footsteps and became a research scientist. She even wrote a follow up book to her father's "Fun With Ferns."