First mate's log:
June 4, 1969
I feel sorry for Bobby again. He says he's not going to run away but he is very unhappy. His brothers and step-sisters think he stole Cindy's doll.
"I didn't even know you like dolls."
"I don't. I hate Kitty Karry-All because she's so dumb. So they think I'd want to hurt her, but I wouldn't. I know Cindy loves that doll and I hope someone finds her. But we've looked all over the house and she's not there."
"Do you want me to check the school and the playground?"
"Gee, Gilligan, that would be swell!"
I didn't have any luck though. He thanked me for trying.
Carol Brady's diary
June 6, 1969
The children are quarreling again, although this time it's not boys against girls but mostly five against Bobby. Kitty Karry-All is missing, and Bobby was the last person in the room with "her," since Cindy had left "her" in the family room while going to get the doll a "fresh bottle." Bobby swears he's innocent and I believe him, but the children have their doubts, in Cindy's case quite strong doubts.
I feel sorry for Cindy, too, of course, since she adores that doll, but it is just a doll, and Bobby is her brother. And Cindy is only six but I'd expect her older siblings to know better. Even Peter was shunning Bobby, and Peter is usually the closest to Bobby of all the children.
Mike spoke to Greg and Marcia, as we sometimes do because as the oldest they are sort of the representatives of all the children. They relay messages to and from the younger children and are expected to set good examples. Mike explained to them the concept of "innocent until proven guilty" and the importance of a fair trial. At moments like that, I can truly see how Mike was influenced by his grandfather the judge.
While Mike and I were having our Thursday date last night, the children decided to hold a trial in the living room. Judge Alice told us about it when we got home. Greg was the defense attorney, Marcia the prosecuting attorney, and Peter and Jan the jury. Alice expected the jury to vote along gender lines, but Peter voted guilty and Jan not guilty. Before Alice could render a decision, her neglected pot roast burned in the oven. (She served the children macaroni and cheese instead.)
June 9, 1969
Bobby came to see me this morning before he went to school and handed over some money.
"What's this for?"
"Can you go to the Blenford Toy Store for me? I lost my kazoo."
"Oh, do you want me to buy you another kazoo?"
"No, I want you to buy another Kitty Karry-All."
"I thought you don't like dolls."
"I don't, but Cindy loved her doll. My kazoo was my favorite birthday gift this year, but I didn't love it like Cindy loves Kitty. So I want to get her another Kitty but I have to go to school, and even if I wait until school is out next week, I can't ride the ferry by myself because I'm too little. So can you go?"
"Of course. And you're a great brother, Bobby."
He shook his head. "My brothers and sisters don't think so."
"They'll come around," I said, thinking of all the stuff I got blamed for when we were marooned that wasn't my fault (including the marooning), but then people would apologize when they realized.
"Thanks, Gilligan."
So I went to the toy store and got a Kitty Karry-All doll. The construction crew guys teased me about "my dolly" when we took them back from their long weekend, but when they heard the story, they were on Bobby's side and they took up a collection for me to buy a kazoo for Bobby tomorrow, not that kazoos cost much, but it was still really nice of them. And I don't mind going to the toy store, since I'm still kind of a big kid myself.
June 10, 1969
Well, it turned out that Tiger was the culprit all along. Bobby lost his kazoo over the weekend, but he unselfishly gave his savings to Gilligan to buy another doll for Cindy. It's the same brand and identical to the doll my parents bought her, but Cindy insisted that this wasn't "the real Kitty." Tiger picked up the rejected doll in his mouth and ran out to the backyard. He stowed it in his doghouse, along with the first Kitty and the kazoo, as well as some other items that have gone missing in recent weeks.
Cindy apologized to Bobby and she's agreed to give the "new Kitty" to her friend Millicent Anderson. Apparently, some of the construction crew gave Gilligan money to buy Bobby a new kazoo, so he's giving that to his friend Tommy Jamison. Bobby is really a wonderful, generous little boy and I'm proud to be his mother.
June 23, 1969
Wow, Ginger's back! The Howells had said something about doing another reunion on the anniversary of the shipwreck, but I thought at most the Professor would come over to our island for a couple days. Ginger and I didn't get to talk much because she came over on the Monday morning ferry today, which was of course full of construction guys who wanted autographs. Her last couple movies, including one she filmed in France this spring, were "bombs," but she's still a beautiful, sexy movie star that they've heard of for years.
She gave me and the Skipper big hugs, which made the construction guys hoot and whistle. Afterwards, the Skipper beamed and waved, while I blushed. I wonder what the construction workers would say if they knew how often Ginger kissed me in the old days.
We took her over to Mary Ann's Diner, although she'll be staying in the Howells' mansion for a week. The two girls hugged and cried and then talked for hours, since they were still talking when the Skipper and I went back to the diner to escort Ginger to the mansion. I didn't want to eavesdrop but I did hear Mary Ann say, "What do you think he'll say when he finds out you're here?" I think she meant the Professor, since he's the only one of us who doesn't live on Brady's Island anymore, besides Ginger I mean. He's not coming over until Thursday, the actual day of the anniversary, and I guess he and Ginger haven't stayed in contact if he doesn't know she's returned.
Ginger and the Skipper did most of the talking on the walk to the mansion. She did talk a little about reviving her movie career, but mostly she wanted to hear about all the changes on the island. We've of course written to her about the changes, but it was different for her to see them. She said it was incredible enough to think of us having places like a post office and a school, but now there are all these new buildings that weren't even here six months ago. A lot of the buildings are sitting empty right now, but soon the new people will be moving here, into their homes and businesses. We'll hit a population of 500, which is hard to imagine, especially for Ginger.
She did mention the Professor, but only when she was talking about the transformation of Blenford, which will have 5000 people by the end of the summer. I couldn't tell if she's jealous of Mrs. Smith, but I don't think so. Mary Ann would probably be able to tell better than I can. Anyway, we'll see the Professor and Ginger together in a few days.
June 26, 1969
It's been five years since we landed on this island. I never imagined willingly returning if we were ever rescued, but I'm glad that I have. Yes, there have been adjustments, but those have more to do with the remarriage, and they would've been much the same if Mike and I had united our families in a suburban setting. (Well, I guess in a sense this island is a suburb of Blenford.)
There will be more changes, in the island and in our family, but I want to see them through. And I realize that, although we're not as close to our fellow castaways as we once were (with the exception of Gilligan), they're part of our extended family. I'm very glad the Howells are holding another "reunion," although we're not as scattered as we were a year ago.
We were all happy enough that the Professor planned to ferry over from Blenford for 24 hours at the mansion, but then Ginger showed up! She flew from Hollywood to Honolulu to Blenford and then took the ferry on Monday.
That's not all. She's moving to Blenford this summer! Mrs. Smith is going to start a television station that will indeed broadcast at least far enough to pick up on our island. Ginger is going to appear on a half dozen different shows, from a Saturday morning cartoon show to a late night horror movie program. She'll even deliver the evening news.
I asked her if she minds leaving Hollywood, but she sees this as a marvelous opportunity, since she'll get to give a variety of performances, some as different sides of herself.
"But you'll only have about 5500 potential viewers."
She smiled wryly and said, "That's more than saw Ciel à l'envers." That's her French art movie.
I didn't ask her about the Professor, although they'll be living on the same island, along with Mrs. Smith. But he did seem pleased if surprised when he heard the news. He did know about the coming of television to Blenford, since he's been helping with the technical side of that. He just hadn't given much thought to the entertainment side of things.
We probably won't see Ginger in person all that often, but it's still nice to know that she'll be just a half hour away, like the Professor. I like that we sixteen castaways are still connected, despite all the changes that have happened and will happen.