POPCORN AND THE NOSELESS
This one takes place before their encounter with the storks.
JULY 5, 1964
"Wow look at these trees Professor!" Gilligan replied as they reached a thick part of the forest near a waterfall.
The Professor looked to where Gilligan was pointing and his eyes widened. Several of the trees were about sixty feet high and had various mosses and ferns growing from them. But the most unusual thing about them was that the trees's roots had sprouted side trunks that elevate the main trunk off the ground making them appear to be walking.
"I do believe that these are called Giant Age Old Ohia Trees!" The Professor replied as it began to drizzle and they hurried underneath the tree.
Once underneath the Professor took the opportunity to examine the many twists and burls on the tree. He counted a couple species of mosses and ferns.
"The rain stopped!" Gilligan suddenly replied.
The Professor was about to follow when suddenly Gilligan stopped short.
"Do you smell popcorn?" Gilligan asked sniffing the air.
"Excuse me?" The Professor asked as he too began to smell popcorn.
"Oh no Professor look at this monkey!" Gilligan suddenly exclaimed.
"Good heavens!" The Professor gasped as he looked at the monkey that had hopped into Gilligan's arms.
The monkey was all black with white ear tufts. On top of it's head it had a couple of tufts of long hair. It had a naked pale pink face, prominent lips, a white chin beard, and a long tail. But the most startling thing about the monkey that caused Gilligan's panic was that the monkey had no nose. Just two upturned slits where it's nose should be.
"Let me see him!" The Professor replied as Gilligan gently handed him the monkey.
"What if whoever made the popcorn did this to her!" Gilligan replied with panic in his voice. "What if we are not alone on this island!"
"Now hold on minute Gilligan look behind you!" The Professor whispered as the monkey hopped back onto Gilligan's shoulder.
Gilligan turned around and gasped. In the tree behind them were several more noseless monkeys. Some of them even had babies.
"That's your family isn't it?" Gilligan asked the monkey on his shoulder.
The monkey responded by sneezing and hopping off his shoulder to join her family.
"See you later Sneezy!" Gilligan called after them.
"Fascinating!" The Professor replied. "They appear to be a new species of snub nosed monkey!"
"We still need to find whoever is making the popcorn though!" Gilligan replied looking around.
"Hmmm maybe it's coming from these fig trees!" The Professor replied as he walked towards a fig tree and gasped. "Holy Shiitake Mushroom! What is that?"
Hanging from the fig tree branch was a big long weasel-like animal hanging from the branch with its thick bushy prehensile tail. It had thick black fur and had a round face with a shout pointed muzzle. It had large black eyes and round short ears that are white around the edges and tufts of black fur on the tips. It had short legs with five toes on each paw along with large strong claws. Another larger one was sitting of the branch above it eating a fig and both of them smelled like popcorn.
"Neat Binturongs!" Gilligan replied and as he extended his hand and patted the one hanging from the branch. The larger one slowly climbed onto Gilligan's shoulder.
"You know about these?" The Professor asked as he let the one on Gilligan's shoulder sniff his hand.
"Not much!" Gilligan replied the binturong climbed back into the tree. "See you later Popcorn and Chip!"
"Amazing!" The Professor replied as they continued walking. "Absolutely amazing!"
A/N: The type of tree I described is the Giant Age-Old Ohia Tree. It grows in the wet rainforests of East Maui. It takes 400-500 years to reach 6 feet in diameter. They are known as the walking trees because when they reach a certain size they grow side trunks in order to raise the main trunk off the ground.
The monkey I describe is called the Myanmar snub-nosed monkey. They were discovered in 2010 in Southeast Asia. It was thought that the rain would make them sneeze because the rain water would get into their upturned noses. They are a critically threatened species.
The Binturong is also called the Bearcat and can be found in the tall forests of Asia. They are listed as Vulnerable. They are active during the day and night. They climb slowly and skillfully. They use their tails and scent glands to communicate with their scent smelling similar to popcorn or corn chips.
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!