Closing in on the end of the story. Not there just yet. Still a little bit to go.
I added some dialogue from the show to this story. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
The seven castaways boarded the ship eager to start their journey home. Kianna was with them and said a happy yet tearful good-bye to her tribal family. She was going to miss them a great deal but she knew this is what she had to Skipper was offering her a great opportunity to learn about the sea. She could not possibly refuse. And her grandfather was right. It was time for her to live out her destiny.
Ginger took her seat by the cabin and the Professor sat down next to her.
She smiled at him. "Can you believe it? In a few hours, we will be in Hawaii and then back home!"
The Professor put his arm around her and kissed her temple. "I'm looking forward to it."
Mary Ann and Gilligan sat over by the railing looking out at the water.
"I'm so happy." Mary Ann said. "Finally, we are going home!"
Gilligan smiled. "I can't wait to see my friends again. Especialy Skinny Mulligan. You'll like him a lot Mary Ann. And his girlfriend Florence Oppenheimer although I don't know if they are still together but she is nice…Oh and you can meet my brother and…"
Mary Ann giggled as he rambled on. "Gilligan…I can't wait to meet all your friends and family."
The Howells took their seats on the opposite site of Mary Ann and Gilligan.
"Oh Thurston it's finally happening! We are going home!"
"Yes my dear it's simply wonderful!"
Mrs. Howell thought a moment. "But dear which home should we go back to first? There is the one in Maine, the one in Palm Springs…the penthouse in New York…."
The Skipper, who was standing by the older couple, shook his head in amusement at Mrs. Howell rattling off all the homes the Howells owned. He himself was looking forward to teaching Kianna everything he knew about the sea.
Deep down he knew she could not replace his own daughter Sasha but he was grateful to have her in his life now. She was an extraordinary young woman with great bravery. He knew that she would make a great sailor and someday perhaps a sea captain.
The ship began to depart and the castaways watched their tiny island begin to shrink farther and farther away as they sailed on the water.
Ginger smiled recalling all her memories of the island. Of course her fondest memory was still when the Professor came to her hut and for some reason just had to sniff her perfume.
"Ginger I've got to sniff your perfume."
"Professor! On the day we are leaving?"
Before she knew what was happening, he had begun to nuzzle her neck taking in the scent of her perfume.
To this day she had no idea what had come over him but at the point in time she really did not care. A part of her was secretly thrilled when he had pulled her close to him.
She remembered excitedly thinking, "He loves me! He loves me!"
When he had finally let go of her, she was disappointed to say the least, but a part of her had never felt such electricity as when he was holding her.
The Professor gazed at the red headed beauty by his side. He was amazed at the turn of events. Never in a thousand years did he ever envision the three hour trip on the SS Minnow ending up like this.
He sat thinking of all the memories he himself had of the time on the island. Of course his favorite ones included Ginger. One in particular he would always hold in his heart was when they went searching for the Eye of the Idol or as he had stated at the time eleven dollars worth of quartz. It was the first time he came to the realization that Ginger could make him do anything.
"I refuse."
"You are just being stubborn."
"What I am being is sensible."
"Alright, I'll do it!"
"Ginger you are hardly dressed for spelunking"
"Professor! What you said!"
"My dear,"
Why he felt the need to address her as "my dear" was beyond him. Perhaps a part of him wanted her to be his.
"My dear a spelunker is a person whose hobby is speoleology. In other words, poking around in caves."
"Oh."
"However if it will make you happy, I'll crawl around and look around."
Yup. Those six little words. If it will make you happy. It was the moment he had ascertained that she had incredible power over him and he would do absolutely anything in the world that she wished simply because it would bring happiness to her.
Mary Ann sat reminiscing about her cherished memories of the island.
Of course the one that was the most precious to her was Gilligan pretending to be her boyfriend. She recalled how she felt as she kissed him and sat on his lap. His arms around her. Nothing ever felt so right in her life.
Gilligan stared out at the ocean thinking back to when Mary Ann believed she was Ginger. The way she was aggressively trying to kiss him. It was true he had run away but it was only because he couldn't believe Mary Ann would feel those things for him. When she kissed him, it sure didn't feel like she was acting. He wanted nothing more than to return her affection but he didn't feel it was right to take advantage when Mary Ann wasn't herself. And the time when Mary Ann's "boyfriend" married another.
Ginger coming up with the plan for the three single men of the island to "court" Mary Ann. Truth be told, Gilligan was more than jealous at the idea of the Professor and the Skipper trying to woo Mary Ann. It's the reason he suddenly exclaimed, "What about me? Who's gonna teach me?"
He wanted more than anything to learn exactly how he could win over sweet Mary Ann. He didn't want Mary Ann to become taken with the other two although he was pretty certain that the Professor would rather have had the opportunity to sweep another lovely woman off her feet. He noticed that the Professor made no protest when Ginger told him she would coach him.
That had made him feel a whole lot better. He was convinced the Professor would be so taken by Ginger's charms that he wouldn't succeed with Mary Ann.
Of course it turned out that they all spoked Mary Ann and she ended up running away from them thinking they had all lost their ever loving minds.
He had wished he had been more debonair in his attempt to win Mary Ann's heart but he supposed in the end, he actually had it all along. Gilligan turned to put his arm around her and hold her close to him. Mary Ann smiled resting her head on his shoulder.
A few hours passed and the port came to view.
The castaways felt excitement as the ship sailed closer and closer finally coming to a stop.
The gathered up their belongings and stepped off the ship to the port where a friendly man with a graying beard and round face greeted them with a smile.
"Hello there." He said. "I'm Charlie. I heard you all were looking for a way home."
"Yes." said the Skipper. "For a long time."
"Well I can certainly help you there." He said with a broad smile.
He looked over at the two beautiful women and whistled. "Wow." He said. "To be shipwrecked with those beauties."
The Professor instinctly put his arm around Ginger and gave Charlie a look. Ginger noticed this and giggled to herself.
Gilligan was less than amused and instantly grabbed Mary Ann's hand as if to say She belongs to me.
Mary Ann held back a laugh.
Charlie then turned and looked at Mrs. Howell. "Well you are certainly a fine woman yourself there."
Mr. Howell glared at him. "My good man, this is my wife. Mind your manners."
Mrs. Howell was delighted by the whole thing and simply said. "Why thank you kind sir."
Kimmo stepped off the boat and walked towards Charlie. "Hello my friend."
"Hey there Kimmo." Charlie said taking his hand. "Nice to see you. I have your supplies right over there for you. And I called my good friend Sam like you asked. He will be here shortly to take your friends the rest of the way."
"Very good." replied Kimmo. "See to that trip goes smoothly."
"They will be just fine." assured Charlie. "Sam will take good care of them and he has contact with the coastguard."
"Good." nodded Kimmo.
He turned to the castaways. "I wish you well on the rest of your journey."
"Thank you for all you have done." Ginger said. "We are forever grateful to you."
"It was my pleasure." Kimmo smiled. "Maybe someday I come to America to visit Kianna and all of you."
"We would certainly love that." said Mary Ann.
Kimmo walked over to Kianna and placed a kiss on her cheek. "I will miss you great deal but wish you success on your new life journey."
"I'll miss you too grandfather." She gave him a hug and he then went to load the supplied onto his boat.
About 30 minutes later, a large ship appeared. An older thin gentleman with a white beard waved as he approached the port.
"Hello all!" He greeted he brought the ship in. He climbed down and hopped onto the pier. "Say you all want a ride home?"
"Sam?" asked Gilligan.
"That's me!" He said cheerfully. "Hope aboard!'
The castaways took their bags and climbed aboard the ship. It was certainly a nice one. You could tell how much Sam loved it and took care of it. The Skipper was in awe. "Say a fine vessel you have here." He said approvingly.
"Thank you sir." replied Sam. "I call her Susan."
"Susan?"
"After my dear lovely wife. She's back home with our son Jeff. I couldn't think of more great name for this sea faring vessel than Susan."
"It's wonderful." said The Skipper. He understood what Sam meant. He had his own boat that he named after his late wife, Abigail.
"Well we are ready to go!" said Sam as he started to pull away from the port.
The seven castaways and Kianna waved to Charlie and Kimmo as they began to sail away.
Sam kept everyone amused with his tales of the sea. Exaggerated or not, they all enjoyed his stories.
Ginger closed her eyes and rested her head against the Professor. It was along trip and she was feeling a bit tired but she was so happy.
The Professor held her as she drifted off sleep. He looked down at her wondering what she may be dreaming. Wondered if she was seeing him in her dream.
He spent many a nights on that island dreaming of her. He still felt foolish for kicking her out of his hut that time. For so long he had wished for her to go to his hut at night and declare her desire for him.
She finally did and what does he do? He asks her to leave! He escorts her out!
How could he have been so blind? So what about the stupid attaché case? Ginger was there. In his hut. Just like he always had longed for!
"Hi Professor"
"Ginger! What are you doing up at this hour?"
"Oh you know, I couldn't sleep and I was afraid of waking Mary Ann. But then I saw that beautiful moon outside. And I thought what a perfect night for romance."
He had to admit that his heart leapt when she said those words. And his heart began beating faster at the other words she purred.
"Isn't it enough that I'm here and you're here.."
What does he do? He doubts her intentions and shoos her away. Thinking back he wished he would have just given in to her. It was what he wanted. The case ended up not having anything important in it. He lost the perfect chance to hold Ginger in his arms and let her know how much he adored and loved her. Well once thing was for certain. He would never make that mistake again. He held her closer and kissed the top of her head.
The pier was coming into view and the Professor gently shook Ginger awake.
She sat up and smiled. "Are we in Hawaii?"
"We are." He said.
They stood up and watched with excitement as the pier came closer and closer into view.
The ship then pulled in and came to a stop.
"Okay folks! This is it!" exclaimed Sam.
They picked their belongings up and started down the stairs of the ship. The press had got wind of their return and were waiting there for them shouting questions.
They all smiled, ignoring the press, and made their way off the pier to a waiting car which would bring them to a hotel before they flew back to their own homes in two days. It gave them some time to unwind and adjust to being back in civilization.
The car drove off and they all were silent just happy to be back.
Kianna was in awe as she looked out the window. She never saw so much in her life. It was all new and exciting to her.
They arrived at their hotel and there was again press waiting them however they were mostly shouting questions to Ginger and to Mr. Howell as they were more well known.
The two smiled and said nothing other than "Glad to be home."
They all made their way into the hotel and to their prospective rooms.
Ginger opened the door to the suite she was sharing with the Professeor.
She thought it was generous of Mr. Howell to pay for them all to say at such a luxurious hotel. He stated they all deserved to live it up. She eyed the large white sofa with soft pillows. The beautiful artwork on the walls. The plush carpet. Carpet! She had not seen carpet in so long!
"This is extraordinary." The Professor remarked. "It's like a dream. I've been so used to our little huts…This is like paradise."
Ginger giggled. She kicked off her heels feeling the soft carpet beneath her feet.
She took the Professor's hand and lead him into the bedroom which they both stopped and gasped at.
A large bed. Bed! They had not had real bed in years! With soft sheets and a big blanket!
Ginger went running and leaped on the bed.
"Roy! This is amazing!" She said laying back on the bed. "This is like being on a cloud!"
He grinned loving the sight of her on the bed. He walked over and climbed on the bed next to her.
He leaned over her and kissed her lips. "And now the cloud has an angel floating on it."
Ginger shook her head and laughed. "That was corny."
"But true." He said taking her in his arms.
The two wrapped themselves around each other getting lost in their passion.