Chapter 11

It was warm on that night, September 8, 1967, and everybody was sitting at the table for dinner. Skipper and the Howells were chatting, as were the Professor and Ginger. Gilligan and Mary Ann didn't have much to say. Suddenly, Ginger peeked over at the Howells and raised an eyebrow, her signal.

Ginger turned to Mary Ann. "Oh Mary Ann, where were you last night? You were out awfully late, I almost even went looking for you, seeing that I was worried. You really shouldn't be wandering around late at night...what were you doing anyway?"

Mary Ann looked up at her cautiously. "Oh I was just...you know...I couldn't sleep well so I...took a walk." She lied.

"Mary Ann, you should have asked me to come with you! Its much safer than being out there alone. You were alone, weren't you?" Ginger asked.

"N--Yes I was!" Mary Ann said quickly. "And--and besides, you were asleep, I didn't want to bother you."

"Oh it wouldn't have bothered me! If you go out again tonight, I'm coming with you." Ginger persisted.

"Oh Ginger you really don't have to do that--" Mary Ann started.

"Of course I do, Mary Ann. Its no problem." Ginger smiled.

Before Mary Ann could respond, Mrs. Howell cut in. "Mary Ann dear, you've been out six nights in a row, are you feeling well?"

"Of course I am Mrs. Howell, I'm fine, really. And Ginger I insist that you don't stay up all night long with me--" Mary Ann was desperate to cahnge her mind.

"Well I insist that I do!" Ginger persisted even more.

"Ginger no, its okay--" Mary Ann shook her head.

Suddenly Ginger set her fork down and crossed her arms. "What Mary Ann, do you have anything important to do tonight or anything? Somewhere to go? Someone to see, hmm?" Ginger tapped her fingers on the table, waiting.

"N--no but--" Mary Ann stuttered.

"Well then, there's nothing to worry about!" Ginger smiled at her.

"You know, as a matter of fact, Gilligan, you do seem to be not sleeping very well either..." Mr. Howell turned his attention to the young sailor, who had been quiet all this time.

"Huh? W--whadya mean Mr. Howell?" Gilligan knew all too well what he meant but didn't want to give himself away.

"You've been up late for the past few nights also, I just happend to notice. I'm surprised you havn't bumped into Mary Ann much, you both seem to wander in the smae exact direction..." Mr. Howell pointed out.

By now Mary Ann's face had turned completely pink. Gilligan glanced sideways at her as he thought up an excuse.

"Uh no, I haven't really bumped into her yet--" Gilligan started.

"Oh well, Gilligan my boy, are you feeling alright?" Mr. Howell asked.

"Oh yeah, um, I'm fine...I guess." Gilligan looked away from Mr. Howell and down at his lap.

"Mary Ann! Are you okay? You're face is quite flush!" Ginger exclaimed. This only made Mary Ann's face turn hot pink.

The Professor knew that if he didn't participate, Ginger would be annoyed with him. "Yes Mary Ann, you really should let me give you a check up, you look quite ill."

"No no, I'm fine I told you, its just really warm out tonight, thats all." Mary Ann said.

"Yeah it is really warm.." Gilligan said in her defense.

Skipper couldn't help but roll his eyes at all of them. He didn't agree with the way Ginger, the Howells, and the Professor were pummeling them for answers, yet he couldn't actually believe that Gilligan and Mary Ann were keeping it up, they were making themselves look ridiculous.

Ginger turned to him. "Skipper, don't you agree that it isn't safe to be walking around alone at night on an island?"

Skipper just gave her a look. "Yes, yes thats true." Skipper mumbled. He didn't like the way she was trying to drag him into all of this.

"Well Ginger, you probably won't have to worry much tonight, I'm pretty tired. In fact, I think I'll go to bed early tonight." Mary Ann said without looking up.

"If you say so Mary Ann." Ginger said.

Mary Ann stood and started clearing everybody's plates from the table as they one by one left and went to their huts. Mary Ann looked up at Gilligan, who was the only one left, with a scarlett face.

"That was close." Gilligan said nervously.

Mary Ann nodded in agreement. "That was too close!"