Chapter 5
Hawaii, Here We Come!
It was a long few days out at sea and everyone was ready to see land.
The waves rocked the boat back and forth as they approached Hawaii. It had been a very tiring journey and the former castaways were ready to be on land and mingling with the rest of society and doing normal things they usually took for granted.
In the distance they could spot the outline of the docks and see boats. The docks never looked so good, or crowds. They could make out people standing around, gathered as they made their return.
" HOME! LOOK SKIPPER, HOME!" Gilligan cheered like a little boy. He was so excited he could barely contain his excitement.
Ginger squealed in delight " Cameras! I bet they will have cameras, How do I look?!" Ginger asked the petite farm girl she had come to know as a sister. " Good as always…" She teared up and before they knew it the girls were both crying and hugging. Despite their differences, they had really bonded and gotten close during their island stay.
The Professor stared out behind them into oblivion as the ship made its voyage closer and closer to land. He could fathom what had just taken place but he was ready and eager to get back in the lab and share everything he had learned and show his fellow scientists just what he discovered on their island. Hopefully he could go back and explore further, but for now he was content with having his sight sets on his classroom.
The Howells were pretty quiet, Mrs. Howell especially. It had been quite an eventful few days and she was still processing everything and wanting so desperately to be back on the island secluded from dearest Mother Howell. She wasn't ready to face society life or her friends. She wanted to move and just be alone with her husband, something they never had the chance to do before, but she figured it was time to retire and just live life. She realized just how short life was and how quickly time would pass- in the blink of an eye.
Thurston Howell III thought the same. He felt the past 20 years of his life had been well spent- Country Clubs, events, golfing, business, stocks, and money. Sure he had it all, but being on the island had taught him that he didn't need all that to be somebody and that his wife needed attention too, not his work, or money. As he turned 50 a few weeks before their rescue, he knew he had a full life ahead with his wife. He was ready to try new things and take risks. He learned it was fun to go outside the norm and be, Un-Howell.
Everyone was so thankful to see land, especially Hawaii. Hawaii was a beautiful place.
It was something they never thought they would see ever again. But there it was, home.
They approached pretty quickly and saw crowds cheering for them, news cameras, and so many people waiting and cheering them on as they finally made it towards the boat dock.
The vessel docked and they got off, remaining in their close group of 7 as they made their way into the large crowd and cameras in their faces.
Ginger Grant was glad to welcome the lenses and flashes of the many reporters.
She posed for photos as the group walked towards their waiting friends and families.
It was sort of a bittersweet moment for them all as they stood together for one last time before returning to everyday life. It was very emotional for the 7.
" Well...looks like we've made it back to shore. It was one of the longest three hour tours of my life." The Skipper said with a chuckle as he tried to lighten the mood. Everyone smiled and hugged before they parted ways.
" Is this goodbye Skipper? Will we see each other again?" Gilligan asked.
" I don't know little buddy, I don't know." he said.
They watched the Professor get a cab to go back home, MaryAnn go with her aunt and uncle, Ginger was being interviewed by the press, sharing an over dramatic tale of her experience. They looked around for the Howells and saw they were walking back up to a giant hotel near the marina.
" Who was here to see them Skipper? All their rich friends?" Gilligan asked as they went to go get a burger. " I don't think so little buddy." he replied wondering what life they were going back too. Deep down, the Skipper hoped Mr. Howell would never forget him. They had grown to be confidants and almost like brothers in a way, sharing life stories and advice with the Professor and Gilligan. He hoped they could all reconnect very soon.
…
The first thing Gilligan and his big buddy did when they arrived at the diner they usually ate at after they got finished on a tour was greet their friends and have a nice big meal, juicy burgers and chocolate shakes.
The waitress walked over with an arm full of food, filling their table. " On the house- for two hungry sailors." She winked.
Gilligan's eyes got big as he stared at the plates full of food before him.
" This is better than turtle eggs and pancakes." Gilligan said as he helped himself to a burger.
The Captain chuckled as his scrawny first mate. Gilligan could eat a horse. He was a bottomless pit, always hungry. Even on the island, he could and would always help himself to seconds and thirds.
Everyone at the diner was asking about their voyage, a story they gladly told as they ate.
People were so curious about primitive life and how they managed to live to tell the tale. The Skipper sat back as he listened to Gilligan tell the story and how expressive he was about each and every detail, keeping everyone at the diner entertained.
They left later that evening and went back to the hotel they were being put up in until their boat was fixed. It felt good to rest their heads.
The 7, wherever they were all slept a little easier that night, snug in their own beds.
…
Time seemed to pass by quickly for the 7 since they split up and returned to some sense of normalcy. It was crazy getting back into the swing of everyday life again, when things were so different since their return to civilization.
A few months had gone by since getting back.
The Professor was diligently working at UCLA on various research projects involving a few of the plant species he had discovered during his marooned state. He was enjoying being home and being able to work in his lab, but he did miss his friends.
Gilligan and Skipper had gotten the payout for a new boat, Minnow 2, and Skipper had used the money to buy a new smaller boat and he even opened up a seafood restaurant near the marina. He had Gilligan go out and catch the seafood most of the time when he wasn't with his childhood friend Skinny Mulligan.
Gilligan was known to be found with Skinny. Usually one was never without the other, they were like brothers, close.
MaryAnn was busy working her uncle's farm. It was a huge undertaking but it was fun. She enjoyed being home in Kansas and back with her family. She had always been close with her cousins and her aunt and uncle when they took her in at a young age.
Ginger, of course, was off being a movie star, she was sought after by every director and was turning their shipwreck story into a movie with her as the lead. Everyone in Hollywood was after Ginger Grant's story.
The Howells had been laying low. Thurston had been avoiding their friends or their old haunts. After a dinner party gone wrong, they really weren't sure who were their friends and who wasn't. They had decided to pack up and leave society life behind and start over. Being on the island had struck a chord with Thurston. The usually pretentious millionaire had softened up from 5 other people that had come into his life and changed it for the better. He no longer felt like he truly belonged. They 'softened up' as their friends told them and 'didn't fit the mold' of upper-crust society, so naturally, Thurston took action immediately and moved them to a colonial home he purchased just outside of Virginia.
Months after their move they felt kind of lonely.
" You know Thurston, I think it's time we have a reunion. I miss our friends." Lovey Howell said.
" What a genius idea, Lovey my dear. We'll call them up and they can stay with us." He smiled. He was excited to have a reunion so they called up and invited their friends to come stay with them.
They were so excited to have them come stay and their friends were equally as excited to be with them!
…..
" Skipper I think we missed the turn!" Gilligan said as he checked the map once more. He wasn't very good with directions to begin with but the Skipper had no choice. He was driving so Gilligan had to navigate.
" At least you do better at sea…" he chuckled and mumbled under his breath as he took the map from his younger friend. It was completely upside down so he fixed it for him. " Ohhh- well according to the map, I think we are almost there." he said.
" Well, I'm pretty sure they said after we hit the dead end, we go over the bridge and it should be right here we are!" Skipper said.
They pulled into the driveway and saw the colonial home come into view. It was hidden by rows of gorgeous trees and they came up to a medium sized white colonial home. Even though it was small, it had a grandeur appeal to it.
" This house is a lot smaller than their other one." Gilligan said. They had visited the Howells older estate that they had sold. It was a grand place. Lots of bedrooms, a helicopter pad, extravagant. Gilligan thought he was at a royal palace. The Howells had several homes, but this was their favorite.
" It is- but I like it. Look Gilligan, there are the others!" Jonas grinned as he saw his old friends.
They stopped the car and got out and hugged all their friends.
" Welcome to our home, I hope it wasn't too hard to get here. Thurston is trying to get a sign made for our road so people can find us!" Lovey Howell said as she greeted her old friends.
" Thanks for having us. It wasn't too hard to find- until Gilligan had our map upside down." The Captain chuckled and rolled his eyes earning a giggle from the others.
" Come, Come! We are having island delicacy for dinner this evening." Thurston said ushering all his friends inside.
MaryAnn and Ginger had taken care of the cooking that evening, tweaking some of their island recipes and made some banana pancakes with some syrup they had from their island, coconut milk, eggs and bacon, and then a delicious coconut cream pie for dessert.
They all sat down and served themselves the food. Thurston Howell cleared his throat and stood up with his wine glass full of coconut milk.
" I'd like to take a moment to say thanks to the girls for preparing this wonderful dinner this evening and how good it feels to be back with our real friends. It took me awhile to know what it means to have friends. After returning back from the island, I realized how lucky Lovey and I were to be shipwrecked. Without meeting you all, we would have never known that money and wealth aren't the answers to everything. We lost our oldest and dearest friends, but that's okay. I realized that I didn't need them as much I need you all. Here is to our wonderful Captain and First Mate for taking us through the longest three-hour tour of our lives and to true friends!" Thurston said.
The others all teared up and toasted his speech. What he said was true. They sat back and laughed and chatted well until the early hours of the morning by the fire pit outside. It was just like old times.
No matter where they went or what they did, the 7 had an unbreakable bond that could never be severed and despite coming from all walks of life, it didn't deter them from being close.
Maybe a shipwreck was just what they needed after all...
THE END:)