First mate's log:

April 4, 1972

Mary Ann and I had an accident at the dive-in! No, it wasn't my fault, and it definitely wasn't hers. We went to the double feature and docked near but not next to the Brady boat. I could see Greg going to the shoreside snack bar to get food for Bobby.

I have to admit Mary Ann and I weren't watching the Western but hugging and kissing when the accident happened, but I found out the details from Greg and Bobby later. Bobby was playing with his slingshot, trying to imitate what was happening onscreen. And it ricocheted all around him. It ended by hitting poor Mary Ann in the back of the head!

I was really worried about her having a concussion, or maybe losing her memory again. She did lose consciousness. But she woke up when Dr. Howard examined her, after the Skipper brought him to the lagoon. The doctor put her on bedrest and I've arranged with the Skipper that I'll run the pizza parlor until she recovers.

Both Bobby and Greg feel terrible about it, and Bobby has offered to work in the pizza parlor for free, well, maybe for free pizza. I'd take him on if he weren't a little kid. I mean, I don't even know that much about money or cooking myself. But I talked it over with Mary Ann, and she's agreed to have him run errands for her.

Meanwhile, the other Brady brother told me about writing advice he got from Alice and Greg. They looked at his first column and said it was kind of boring. They said that everyone likes to see their name in the paper, especially if it's something nice. I guess that's true, and the Brady kids sure have gotten their names in The Blenford Bugle a lot, including Peter himself when he saved that little girl a couple years ago.

Carol Brady's diary:

April 6, 1972

Bobby is now running errands for Mary Ann, as penance. Greg has turned over all of his boat savings for the repairs. But, yes, Mike and I are still going forward with our hopefully less destructive bet.

Last night I was looking at Mike's yearbook in bed. I mused aloud on some likely candidates. I thought Mike was talking in his sleep, so I listened for clues. He was just teasing me, but I didn't catch on until he sleepily suggested "Zelda."

Well, I still have a couple months until the reunion. Meanwhile, Alice is taking a vacation next week, for a week, to visit her older sister Emily. I told her we can manage fine without her for such a short time, but she's asked her cousin Emma to stay with us.

"Oh, is she a housekeeper?"

"No, a retired WAC. But she's very organized and she can literally cook for an army."

I'm a little dubious about it, but it's only for a week, and it would be nice to have some help while Alice is gone.

April 8, 1972

Things are going pretty well at the pizza parlor, but Kilani and Ugundi have been helping Mary Ann run a restaurant for over three years now so they take care of a lot of it. And, yes, I'm trying not to eat too much of the pizza.

Bobby told me that Alice is going on vacation soon, to visit her sister.

"I'll really miss her. I've seen her almost every day of my life."

"That makes sense." I remembered that she's been with his family since before he was born. "But she is entitled to time with her own family."

"I guess."

I'll miss Alice a little myself, but I got to thinking of when Mr. and Mrs. Brady went on their ski trip a couple months ago. What if I helped look after the house and the kids while she's away? Mary Ann will probably be better by then so she might not need me at the pizza parlor anymore. Maybe she could even help out. Or I could order food from her restaurant and serve it to the Bradys, so Mrs. Brady won't have to cook every meal.

I know it's kind of short notice but I would've offered sooner if I'd known. I didn't say anything to Bobby, but I'll make the offer to Mrs. Brady tomorrow.

April 10, 1972

Well, I was not expecting that. Alice will be leaving in four days and Emma will arrive that same day. But yesterday Gilligan offered to take over while Alice is gone!

"The Skipper is already managing OK without me anyway."

I felt a little sorry for him, although I know he meant that as a selling point. "That's very kind of you, Gilligan, but—"

"I know, they can be a handful, like at the dive-in. But I don't hold that against them. I got into a lot of mischief as a a kid myself."

I had to bite my tongue to keep from mentioning all the mischief he got into in his early 20s.

"They're good kids and I feel like I understand them better than anybody outside your family."

That's no doubt true, but perhaps he relates to them too much, like a big kid himself. I mean, I'm fine with him as an honorary uncle in their lives, but I can't see him doing not just the child care but all the cooking and housework Alice does.

"You wouldn't even have to pay me if you don't want to."

"Look, Gilligan, I really appreciate the offer, but the truth is, we've already made arrangements for a temporary replacement."

"Oh. Are you borrowing one of the Howells' maids?"

That hadn't even occurred to me. No doubt, Mr. Howell would expect us to pay her and give him a commission. "No, actually, it's Alice's cousin."

"She has a cousin on the island?"

I managed not to laugh. He knows many of the people on the island, maybe most, and they him, thanks to the ferry and to his general notoriety. "No, no, her cousin will be arriving next week."

"Oh, then I guess I'll see her on the ferry."

"Probably." Unless she's parachuting in or something.

"Well, let me know if you want to order any pizzas, just in case she feels overwhelmed by Alice's job."

"Thank you, Gilligan, we will."