First mate's log:
September 7, 1970
One thing about the population going up both here and on Blenford is that we don't just have the one television station anymore. BITV is still covering local news and programming, with Ginger as busy as ever. But now there's WAVE, which has taken over showing older shows, while WIKI (Hawaiian for "speedy") uses satellite to pick up the newest shows. Not only that, but there are now five radio stations on Blenford, and one on our island! The Blenford stations play a mix of different kinds of music, some original radio dramas and comedies (kind of like I remember from when I was a little kid, although I think it was a bigger thing in the '30s and '40s), and news, both local and international.
WBI concentrates on stuff about and for our island, and they don't broadcast all day every day. But it's still pretty exciting. Mary Ann is going to make a radio commercial for her diner, now that there are enough restaurants on Brady's Island to give her competition. The Skipper thought about recording an ad for our ferry, but so far no one else is offering ferry service. Everyone either rides with us or has their own boat, or just stays put on one island or the other.
I still don't get too much time to watch TV, but I'm catching up on it this weekend, since it's Labor Day. It's weird but wonderful to have so many choices. I do listen to the radio a lot, especially since we get good reception on the ferry, and the passengers like it. Well, sometimes they argue over what station to play, but the Skipper has final say.
September 10, 1970
The first week of school is over, with Cindy settling into second grade, Bobby into third, Jan into fifth, and Peter into sixth. The children like having their own teachers, without having to share with their siblings anymore, since there are twenty to twenty-five students in each grade now. Peter has a new teacher, Mrs. Watson, while Jan is pleased she gets to keep Mrs. Whitfield. Similarly, Bobby has a new teacher, Mr. Kotter, the only male teacher at their school and fresh out of college, while Cindy is relieved to have Mrs. Engstrom for one more year. (And, yes, Miss Brooks is still teaching kindergarten.)
It's more complicated for our junior-high students. There are three teachers at Fillmore Junior High, who each have a grade for homeroom and then teach two subjects to all three grades throughout the day, in 45-minute slots, with five-minute breaks between. Adding on the half hour for homeroom and half hour for lunch, this comes to six hours, from 8:30 to 2:30. And then, there will be after-school extracurricular activities for any students that are interested.
Besides Mr. Randolph, who's the principal and coach for all the boys' sports, there are Mrs. Ferguson, Mrs. Denton, and Mr. Price. Greg has Mrs. Ferguson for homeroom. (She's young but not nearly as attractive as Miss O'Hara, who's now gone, to my relief, I must admit.) Mrs. Ferguson teaches Social Studies as well as well as one PE class for all roughly thirty junior high girls, and she does the Art and Drama electives. Marcia's homeroom teacher, Mrs. Denton, teaches English and History. And then the 7th-grade homeroom teacher, Mr. Price, does Science and Math.
There's a similar set-up at the high school, but we don't have to think about that until next year, when Greg starts at Westdale (which isn't in a dale, but we are West of Blenford). Right now, Greg and Marcia are so fully into the junior high experience that they're both running for student body president! It's open to all three grades and I was pleased when Marcia came home and told me she's running. And then I found out who her opponent is. I think either child would be a good leader, but I wish they weren't running in the same year. Still, Mike, Alice, and I will do our best to be impartial.
Unfortunately, the same may not be said of the younger children. Even though it's not even their school, they're dividing up on the lines of gender and blood, when we've all done such a good job uniting as a family. But politics can divide families, even at the junior high level.
September 16, 1970
Greg and Marcia are running against each other for student body president and they've both been complaining to me about each other, although I try to stay neutral. But something has happened that's made them both rethink it, the day before they're due to give their campaign speeches to the entire school.
Greg's campaign manager, Rusty, suggested spreading rumors about Marcia going to the movies with Felix Brown, who lots of kids, including Marcia, think is creepy. I definitely know we've never taken Marcia and Felix on the ferry to Blenford so they could see a movie, and I doubt their parents would. But Rusty was just trying to do mud-slinging, and Greg wouldn't stand for it.
"My other buddy, Scott, says I've lost the election because I had to fire Rusty, but I don't care. I'd rather win honestly or not at all."
"You're a good brother, Greg."
"But a lousy politician."
Then Marcia came by later and told me she overheard what Greg and his two friends said. "I'm so confused, Gilligan. I really wanted to be elected, but Greg showed real strength of character."
"Maybe you could run again next year, when Greg is in high school."
"That's what Mom said, since I'm a year younger. I didn't want to wait, but maybe I will."
"Well, I think you'd both make good presidents."
She smiled. "You were a pretty good president yourself, Gilligan."
I'd forgotten about her and Greg voting for me when we temporarily lowered the voting age to seven, six years ago. Obviously that wasn't in effect by the time we got rescued and rejoined the United States as a territory. Anyway, she's got a tough decision ahead of her, and I'm glad I'm not in junior high and don't have to decide between two qualified Bradys.
September 18, 1970
To my relief, Marcia took my advice and dropped out of the race. Not that I don't believe in female politicians, and not that I don't think she'd make a wonderful president, but I didn't like what the campaign was doing to our family. Greg has been a gracious winner and he says he'll help her with next year's campaign. Let's hope Peter doesn't decide to run as a seventh-grader!
