CHAPTER SEVEN
JUNE 4, 1960
It was standing room only as half the town gathered for their high school's graduating class of 1960. At the moment they were listening to Principal Doyle speak.
"And now," Principal Doyle replied finishing up. "Speaking for our many class Valedictorians William John Gilligan!"
The entire crowd erupted as Will, who was seated with half of the class on the right side of the stage, got up, climbed the stairs tripping on the last step. He tried to recover but ended up bumping into the podium which knocked over the table of diplomas. Principal Doyle tried to prevent the diplomas from scattering but slid backwards off the stage and into the other half of the graduating class who toppled sideways like dominoes. The last student on the end fell against one of the poles holding up the paper 'Graduating Class of 1960' sign. The sign ripped in half as the pole fell and landed next to the audience with a loud crack. The room became so silent that a pin could be heard if it dropped. Will's ears became red as he laughed weakly.
"Well at least I'm going out with a loud bang!" Will replied as everyone laughed along with him.
"Woooo! Way to go Big Bang Will!" Skinny and Fatso shouted and everyone cheered.
JUNE 19, 1960
Ellen and Patrick Gilligan were cutting the bushes in the front yard when all of a sudden they smelled a familiar foul smell. They looked at each other then looked across the street.
"Ewwwwww! They heard all the Flanagan's exclaim.
"UGH! They heard Will exclaim and saw him jump out of the tree holding his nose and looking green.
"Oh no the Skunk Man returns!" Patrick replied as they ran across the street.
AUGUST 6, 1960
It was a week before he had to leave for Florida to begin his training for the Navy and Will was cleaning his room. At the moment he was trying to find his Navy Manual.
"Has anyone seen my Navy Manual?" He called out.
"Yeah it's out here on the all table!" Came Danny's voice from the hall. "Here catch!"
Will looked up just in time to see the book coming right at him. Before he realized what was happening he was wincing and had his hand on his eye.
0o0o0o0
"Just great!" Will replied five minutes later as Ellen held a frozen steak over his eye. "What are they going to think when I show up with a black eye and still smelling like a skunk!"
"Think of it this way," Danny began as he bit into an apple. "No one will want to mess you!"
"Daniel!" Ellen replied giving him a stern look as she brought the steak away from his eye which had already turned black and blue. "It doesn't look too bad. It should be gone by next week!"
"Whoa what happened to you Captain Stink Eye!" Bridget replied as she came into the kitchen with her boyfriend Ben.
Will groaned as Ellen put the steak back on his eye and gave Bridget a stern look.
In the next few chapters I'll be tackling Gilligan's Naval training. If anyone knows anyone who know what Naval training was like back in the 60's please PM me!
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!