Gilligan, Skipper, Ginger, and Mr. and Mrs. Howell huddled together at the lagoon.
"Please come with us Professor, Mary Ann." Mrs. Howell pleaded. The professor and Mary Ann stood away from the group.
"You aren't going anywhere." The professor said matter-of-factly.
"We will if you believe enough," Gilligan said with child-like innocence.
The professor shook his head. "It's a silly superstition Gilligan... just make-believe."
"Please, Mary Ann." Ginger pleaded "Don't you want to get back to civilization?"
"I'm staying with the professor. I can't leave him here alone." Mary Ann explained.
"Stubborn creatures." Mr. Howell mumbled.
Mrs. Howell lightly patted her husband's cheek, "Yes dear, quite right."
Skipper adjusted his hat impatiently. "Well, if we can't change your mind, we'll send a rescue boat as soon as we get to Hawaii."
"Please come with us, Professor," Ginger pleaded.
The professor waved a hand dismissively. "Bon voyage."
"Bye everyone, stay safe," Mary Ann said.
Skipper glanced at the sun. "The sun will set soon. Quick, make the third wish Gilligan before it's too late."
"Ok, Skipper." Gilligan closed his eyes and stretched out his arm, holding tightly onto the Eye of the Idle. "I wish we were off this island!"
In the blink of an eye Mr. and Mrs. Howell, Ginger, Skipper and Gilligan were gone.
Mary Ann gasped, and the professor exclaimed, "Good heavens, it worked!"
Wide-eyed, they shared a glance before staring back at the now-empty shoreline. The professor instinctively pulled Mary Ann closer in a protective hug. Mary Ann's hand tightly gripped the fabric of his shirt. Daylight faded as they stood on the beach dumbfounded, trying to make sense of it all.
"They couldn't have just disappeared." Mary Ann whispered.
The professor shook his head in disbelief. "No... they couldn't have."
"What... What happened? How could they have just disappeared?"
"I don't know, my dear."
Mary Ann scanned her surroundings. "Nothing else seems to have changed."
Keeping an arm around her, the professor guided Mary Ann away from the lagoon. "Come my dear. There's no more point in standing here." Before the beach disappeared behind the trees, the professor glanced back one last time. Magic ISN'T real. What really happened to them?
It was unusually quiet as they entered the hut area. No Gilligan asking if supper was ready and if Mary Ann had made a pie. No Skipper helping Ginger practice her lines, and no Mr. and Mrs. Howell supervising all the activity.
Not knowing what else to do, Mary Ann looked for something to keep her mind occupied. "Well, I guess I should make us some supper," she said, reluctantly.
The mysterious disappearance of their friends made the professor and Mary Ann uneasy and anxious. Neither one of them wanted to be alone.
"Why don't I help you make supper tonight? I can at least cut up some fruit." Professor offered.
Mary Ann quickly accepted his offer. "That would be nice if you don't mind."
As Mary Ann grilled their fish and the professor cut up a pineapple, the conversation was stilted. Neither one knew what to say.
Mary Ann slid the fish onto plates and started toward the table. "Would you mind bringing our drinks?"
The professor and Mary Ann sat down at their usual place at the end of the table. When they had explored the island together, they had eaten many meals alone, but tonight was different. The table felt empty without the rest of the castaways sitting at the large table. Mealtimes had always been joyous with all the castaways talking. It was too quiet. The only sounds were the leaves rustling in the breeze. It felt the same as when they were first shipwrecked... lonely. Isolated and anxious about the unknown.
To escape her thoughts, Mary Ann asked about the professor's latest experiment. Gratefully for the distraction, the professor explained the latest plant he had discovered and how he hoped it could be used as an antiseptic.
The professor had always found it helpful to talk through some of the roadblocks with his work. Mary Ann was the only castaway who showed interest in his work, and it had become a habit to sit together during mealtimes. Mary Ann enjoyed listening to the professor and learning from him.
"Well, I better get these washed. I'll be back in a few minutes."
The professor stood and gathered the dishes. "Let me help you. We should discuss how this will impact our daily life."
Mary Ann chuckled nervously as they walked to the kitchen. "It'll have to be a quick talk. With only the two of us, it'll be the fastest I've ever cleaned up after a meal."
"It's highly unlikely natives will come here, but if they ever did come back, it would be better if we stayed together. What did Skipper and Gilligan do for you each day?"
Mary Ann handed him a dish to dry, "Well, they supplied the wood and fish for cooking. They also brought me fresh water. Gilligan gathered fruits I couldn't reach."
The professor pondered for a moment. "How about a brand-new schedule?"
"Like what?" Mary Ann asked.
"We can share all the chores. I shouldn't share the cooking, though... at least you wouldn't like the results if I did," the professor chuckled.
"After that soup that you made me when I was sick, I think it would be better if I continue to do the cooking," Mary Ann teased.
"I can cut up the fruit, at least."
Mary Ann smiled. "Thank you, that would be helpful."
"After breakfast, why don't we gather our food for the day as well as any plants I require for my research?"
"That sounds like a good plan, " Mary Ann agreed. "We should only need to gather food every two or three days, then."
"That will give us time to explore more of the island. Giving us some physical activity, which is most important."
"I'll continue to do the laundry. Without Mrs. Howell and Ginger changing cloths at least three times a day, it won't take long at all. After lunch, you can work on your research."
"Yes, if you don't mind. I would like to continue my research, if possible."
"Oh, I don't mind at all. Your work is very important... I went fishing back home. Of course, it was only lake fishing, but Skipper and Gilligan taught me how to fish in the ocean. I think I can keep us stocked up."
"That would be excellent. I can help you, then we'll have enough for a few days. Since you'll be cooking, I'll continue to help with the dishes after each meal."
Mary Ann smiled. "That's very thoughtful of you. Thank you."
"Not at all my dear. It's the least I can do since you cook such wonderful, nutritious meals."
After the dishes were complete, Mary Ann and the Professor sat down with a cup of tea before turning in for the night.
"Mary Ann-" the professor nervously cleared his throat "-Mary Ann, I think we should sleep in the same hut."
"Professor!"
Holding up his hand he quickly continued. "Hear me out. It's only the two of us now and though we're on a deserted island, I would worry if you were alone."
"I don't know... it wouldn't be the same as rooming with Ginger. What would Mrs. Howell say?"
"You can trust me to be a perfect gentleman," the professor assured. "Besides, when we were first shipwrecked, we all slept in the same hut."
Mary Ann gave a weak smile. "Yes, but there are only two of us now."
"I watched a film a few years back called "It happened One Night". In that picture, due to certain circumstances, an unmarried man and woman were traveling and had to share a motel room. So, the man, Clark Gable, strung a rope down the middle of the room between the two beds. He then hung a blanket to give them both privacy and said it was 'as strong as the walls of Jericho'."
"Oh, I saw that film," Mary Ann exclaimed.
"So, you understand how it could work. I'm sorry Mary Ann, but I would sleep better knowing you were not alone."
"Well... I suppose it could work. To tell the truth, I wasn't looking forward to sleeping in my hut without Ginger. It'll take some getting used to though, you're nothing like Ginger."
"Good heaven, I should hope not!" the professor exclaimed.
"We can sleep in Mr. and Mrs. Howell's hut since it has more space," Mary Ann suggested.
"Very good idea. We can keep our cloths in our own huts for our privacy and just use the Howell's hut for sleeping."
"That sounds like a good plan."
Professor stood up. "I'll go find the rope."
Watching the professor walk away, Mary Ann sighed, that was such a romantic film. Mary Ann jumped as she remembered a key moment. At the end of that film, Clark Gable blew a bugle to make the wall of Jericho fall.
Mary Ann hesitantly walked into the Howell's hut to find the professor had already strung a rope across the room and was in the process of hanging the blanket.
With a sweeping gesture, the professor proudly announced, "Behold, the wall of Jericho."
Remembering that line from the film, Mary Ann couldn't help laughing. Thank goodness we don't have a bugle on the island.
Mary Ann stood in her nightgown, which was one of the professor's shirts he had given her when they were first shipwrecked. She mentally chastised herself. I'll never understand how I forgot to pack a nightgown.
The professor had seen her wearing his shirt many times. But now that there were only the two of them, and sleeping in the same hut no less, it felt intimate.
"Umm, which bed would you like?" Mary Ann asked.
The professor absently answered as he checked the strength of his "wall", "Oh it doesn't make any difference to me, you can choose."
"Well then, I'll take this one. G... goodnight," Mary Ann stuttered as she walked to the other side of the wall of Jericho.
"Goodnight, Mary Ann."
After an hour of listening to each other tossing and turning, Mary Ann whispered, "Professor?"
"Yes, Mary Ann?" The professor quietly answered.
Mary Ann hesitated. "I just can't stop thinking about what happened today."
"To be honest, neither can I."
"My mind just can't make sense of it. Do you think it was really magic?"
"No, my dear."
"Then where did they go?" Mary Ann asked.
Trying to feign confidence the professor answered. "There is always a logical explanation for everything, we just haven't found the answer yet."
"I suppose so. Goodnight, Professor. Sweet dreams."
"Goodnight, Mary Ann."