Mary Ann.
Ginger woke Mary Ann again the following morning.
"Rise and shine, sunshine!" she said cheerily, jostling her hutmate's shoulder.
Mary Ann moaned and turned over, pressing into her pillow and pulling the light cover over her chilled shoulder.
"Hmmmm, go away!"
"C'mon, Mary Ann, you, me and Mrs. Howell have a lot to do today! We need to get you and the Professor married, after all!"
Mary Ann groaned once more and pulled herself sitting up. She stared through the gauzy curtain of their hut and saw activity in the compound.
"It's so early, is everyone up?" she asked, amazed that others had beat her to first light.
"Yep, and they're making their OWN breakfasts today! You've got the day off, while Mrs. Howell and I fuss and preen over you. We've got a day lined up for you, and the ceremony will be tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? So soon y'all have it planned?"
Mary Ann stood and grabbed her fresh clothes, anxious to get out of the clothing she'd worn for 2 1/2 days.
"We talked for hours last night, after you and the Professor went to bed. You don't see him until the wedding, we've decided. Native tradition around here, and a good idea."
Ginger gave Mary Ann a sly wink. "It'll make your wedding night that much more special!"
Mary Ann sagged back on her pillow, with a soft smile on her face. "Oh, Ginger, I can't WAIT! But I'm a little nervous, too, if you know what I mean!"
Ginger patted her hand. "I know you are, I know. And that's something else we're going to do today: have your pre-wedding night talk. Mrs. Howell said she'd be happy to tell you all about it, and I can too. She's rather honored, she said, not having a daughter of her own to impart her wisdom to. And I'm there in my role as older sister."
Mary Ann took Ginger's hand in her own, giving her a grateful squeeze. "Any tips either of you can give would be appreciated! I mean, I know the MECHANICS of it all, but I want our night to be as special to Roy as it will be to me!"
"You bet you do! Now, the men will clear out of the compound in just a bit. They're grabbing some grub and going to the lagoon to eat, so we womenfolk can have breakfast. They've got the bachelor party to plan. And we've got our little spa day today."
Mary Ann stood again, stretching her achey muscles. "Spa day?"
Ginger giggled, unable to contain herself. She'd enjoyed many days at a spa, being pampered and spoiled and fussed over, and was looking forward to giving Mary Ann the same treatment, with Mrs. Howell's capable help.
"Oh, yes, Mary Ann! We've got so much to do! We'll give you a facial, fix your nails, wash your hair after we use some of that sage on it, you being a brunette and all, and... and... " She couldn't continue for all the excitement beaming out of her.
Mary Ann laughed with delight. "I'm impressed, thank you, Ginger! I feel like a princess with all the fussing you two want to do!"
Ginger went to Mary Ann and took her hand. "Maybe I'll be next, Mary Ann."
"You mean... ?"
"Yes, I thought long and hard on it last night, after our talk, and I think you're right. I truly examined my feelings for Jonas... the Captain, as it were, and I think there IS something there. I got that giddy feeling you mentioned, just thinking of him."
Mary Ann gave her friend a quick hug and pulled back. "That's GREAT, Ginger! What do you have in mind for him?"
"Well, I'll work on that AFTER your nuptials! Don't want to get distracted and all. I... I think I'm going to have a little talk while you two are honeymooning. I've decided I'm taking over for you, while you're gone. I get the distinct impression people around here think I'm useless."
Mary Ann blushed as she turned to their little vanity, picking up her hairbrush. She didn't want Ginger to see her face, because the older woman had pretty much expressed what she'd thought herself a few days before.
"No, Ginger..." she began.
Ginger stood behind her, looking at Mary Ann's eyes through the mirror. "Yes, Mary Ann. I'm not so stuck in my own world I don't notice. I want to show Jonas that I'm not a delicate little porcelain doll who can't do anything. You were right, too, about how I've changed. We've changed. It's time for me to start accepting I may never see Hollywood again. He needs a good woman by his side, not a burden."
Mary Ann simply stared, amazed and a little awed at the determination in Ginger's voice and countenance. Give her fuel for thought, Mary Ann wondered, and a different side of her comes through.
"You really HAVE thought this through, haven't you?"
"Sure did. But no matter, let's get you to breakfast, then we ladies can begin our fun day. Mrs. Howell is already working on your little wedding dress, which you don't get to see until tomorrow, when we get you ready."
So Mary Ann's day went, with the two other women fussing over her. She was rather shy and embarrassed about it, and kept blushing with all the attention, but both women poo-poo'd her protests.
"Nonsense, Mary Ann," Mrs. Howell said as she dabbed fine mud on Mary Ann's lovely flushed cheeks. "This is as it should be, us women sticking together. The Professor said that's what the native women around here do, fussing and pampering the newest bride. It's your turn now. I had my sisters and cousins fussing over me, so many years ago, before Thurston and I were married."
The older woman paused, smiling sweetly down at Mary Ann. "Besides, I don't have a daughter of my own. It's almost like I'm getting my own little girl ready for her husband!"
Mary Ann patted the mud-covered hand of Lovey Howell. "Thank you, Mrs. Howell, that means a lot to me, with Mom not here."
Her eyes began to get misty, thinking how her mother and all her family would miss this most special day.
"Now, now, no tears this day, my dear! Some day, when we are rescued, you and the Professor can hold a reception and be welcomed back into both families."
Mary Ann drew in a long breath, and sighed heavily. "You're right. No tears today, this is my day after all!"
Ginger leaned down so Mary Ann could see her. "Yes, it is, and don't forget it! Now, once you're done with the mudpack, in a couple of hours, we'll tend to your hair. I have a fragrant sage wash, just right for your brunette hair, and toning as well!"
The day flew by for Mary Ann, and she had to chuckle many times as the men worked so desperately to keep her and Roy from seeing one another. Gilligan would round a corner, see the ladies there, and turn sharply, yelling, "No, no, not this way! They're HERE!" and the scurry to get the Professor away would begin.
She heard his laugh a few times, and he heard hers, and the delight and joy in both were unmistakeable. Ginger would put her fingers on Mary Ann's mouth, to prevent the bride-to-be from speaking to her intended.
After the seven castaways had fed themselves, surprisingly well without Mary Ann's help, the three women retired to Mary Ann's hut.
"Okay, now the fun can begin. Here!" Ginger handed her a cup made of a coconut.
"Ut oh, is this the Skipper's hooch?"
"You bet! We're going to have some FUN now!"
Mary Ann laughed as Ginger handed Mrs. Howell a cup, and took her own, planting herself on her bed. The two women toasted Mary Ann, and they all took sips of the powerful brew.
"Whew!" they exclaimed, then laughed at the expressions on their faces.
"Ginger, don't let me get TOO wasted! I'd hate to face my wedding day with a hangover!"
"Don't worry about that, sweetie, worry about having fun. Now, drink!"
After a few minutes, the three were decidedly relaxed, and the giggles began to flow. They shared a few jokes, lightening the atmosphere and the mood, and finally Mrs. Howell spoke up.
She cleared her throat, and looked to Mary Ann. "Now, Mary Ann, it's time we had our little talk. About tomorrow night, your wedding night."
Mary Ann tried to look serious and attentive, and leaned back on her pillows. The attempt lasted all of five seconds, and she giggled in anticipation.
"All right, Mrs. Howell, tell me. What can I expect?"
Over the next couple of hours, all three sipping Skipper's hooch (as they called it), Mary Ann learned some things that she'd never even considered about the opposite sex. She was blushing so constantly, from the alcohol and the subject matter, that she was convinced she had to be glowing. The two women weren't holding anything back, and Mary Ann was more convinced than ever that she really WAS a little innocent in matters of romance.
"And you say men like this?"
Ginger's eyes sparkled wickedly. "Oh, in the best way, trust me!"
Mary Ann laughed. "Of course I trust you, I trust you both, but I think I'm going to die of blushing, if that's possible!"
Mrs. Howell blushed too, the redness of her cheeks making her look twenty years younger, as she leaned forward to whisper something to Mary Ann. "You know what Thurston always liked?"
As the older woman whispered what her husband liked, Mary Ann, flustered, stood to go to the vanity and set her cup down.
"Mrs. Howell! How am I ever going to be able to face him again, knowing that?"
The other two bent double with laughter, and Mary Ann joined in.
"You'll be fine, my dear, just fine!"
Ginger stood, once she could, and went to the table too. She opened the box of items she'd gathered over their years, and took out a little glass bottle that had a ribbon on it.
"Here, Mary Ann, this is for tomorrow night. It's an old perfume bottle that Mrs. Howell had, and we put something in it for you. It's not much of a wedding gift, but you two will enjoy it."
Mary Ann took the delicate bottle, looking into it. "What is it?"
She didn't miss the look between Ginger and Lovey.
Ginger smiled, touching the bottle. "It's massage oil. A great ice-breaker! Because you KNOW once you two are up there, all alone, you're not going to know where to begin. Use that. Give him a backrub. Nature will take over from there just fine."
Mary Ann opened it, sampling the fragrance, and smiled. "It's WONDERFUL, and not all girlie smelling."
The three ladies enjoyed one more round of the hooch, and Mrs. Howell stood, none too steadily.
"All right, Mary Ann, it's time for you to get your beauty sleep. No point in ruining your spa by drinking and carousing all night! And I've got to put the final touches on your wedding dress. It's going to be LOVELY on you, too!"
Mary Ann walked Mrs. Howell to the hut door, giving the older woman one final hug. "Thank you again, Mrs. Howell, for EVERYTHING today! You've been so kind, it was almost like having Mom here!"
"You're quite welcomed, my dear! Now, off to bed with you both! We must look our best for the gentlemen tomorrow, after all, especially your husband!"
After she left, Ginger took Mary Ann by the shoulders and led her to bed. "Lie down, relax, don't think about tomorrow. Before you know it, it'll be morning, and the ceremony is at high noon!"
Mary Ann, already half asleep, yawned mightily in response. Within moments, both women were deeply asleep, undisturbed by the commotion coming from the lagoon.
Roy.
The Skipper and his first mate spent the first part of their morning talking in a huddle with Mr. Howell, at the dinner table in the compound. They were keeping their voices low, so as not to awaken the Professor, who was heard snoring through the walls of his hut.
"All right, Gilligan, the Professor put you in charge. What's on the agenda, little buddy?"
"Okay, we have a few things to work out. He's got a dinner jacket that we've seen him wear, but is there something else he can use? For his special day?"
Mr. Howell spoke up. "I've got a dinner jacket myself that he can use, a white one. Knights of Columbus and all, very formal. We shouldn't have any problem with him fitting it, although it might be a little big."
"Good, good, thank you, Mr. Howell. We all know the ladies will be getting Mary Ann all gussied up, and we should do the same for him. What else, Gilligan?"
"We bring the radio to the lagoon, a barrel of your hooch, Skipper, and kick back and have fun."
Skipper stood, clapping Gilligan on the shoulder. "Good, simple and to the point. I've got a deck of cards I can bring, and we can bring that little table down there. Get some poker in."
The three men agreed it'd be a good little bachelor party, with music, cards and liquor. What else would a man want, after all?
Gilligan stood as well. "Two other things to do. I'll work on decorating the float, and the three of us need to keep the Professor and Mary Ann from seeing one another!"
That little task proved to be their greatest difficulty, after the Professor had awoken and Gilligan told him what the day held.
"We feed ourselves, and we keep you and Mary Ann apart, Professor!"
Roy laughed at the expression on Gilligan's face. "That might be difficult, Gilligan, stuck as we are together."
"No, we'll get your breakfast, head to the lagoon, and get things ready down there. You'll see. Grab something to eat and let's go," he commanded.
"Yes, First Mate Gilligan, immediately!"
After Roy had eaten, Gilligan continued to hover about.
"Are you going to shadow me all day, Gilligan?"
"Sure am! Once the Skipper takes over, I'll work on the final touches of decorating the float."
"I don't need a babysitter, you know."
"Yeah, you do. You'd sneak a peek at Mary Ann as soon as you can," Gilligan said, smiling as he bit into a banana.
"You're right, I would."
Roy paused a moment, then had to ask. "Gilligan, those looks you've given us. You knew, didn't you?"
"Sure did! After I busted you two up here in the water, I got to thinking, and I thought, 'He was going to kiss her!'"
"And you didn't tell anyone?" Roy asked, amazed at the younger man's tact.
Gilligan shook his head, his mouth full of banana. "Nope," he said around the food he was trying to chew.
"I'm impressed! I thought for sure you'd be shouting it from the mountaintops."
"I know, I knew you and Mary Ann would think that. I wanted to show you and her that I can keep secrets, although none of you think I can."
"I'll certainly consider that for future reference. Thank you for your tact. She and I wanted to get to know one another a little more in this new relationship, before making the big announcement."
He pointed to their ridge. "I hadn't PLANNED on asking her to marry me, when we headed out. It just occured to me, as she and I were working up there together."
Gilligan smiled in response as a smile lit the older man's face. "You sure look happy, Professor!"
Roy chuckled, looking back to his young friend. "I am, Gilligan, ecstatically happy! Turns out she and I both had the same thing on our minds for well on a year, and neither of us could have guessed. Fate brought us together, starting with that log she tripped on."
"Hmmmm, fate, and maybe a little help from the Minnow's first mate," Gilligan said, winking at the Professor.
"The waterfall?"
"Yep."
"But Gilligan, how could you have contrived that? I was the one asking YOU to help me, not vice versa!"
"I worked with what I had. I suspected Mary Ann would find some excuse to tag along, and I was right, she did. So, I told the Skipper to put me to work that afternoon, him not knowing about our planned lesson, and he was happy to do so. I knew you two would know you'd have the afternoon undisturbed."
"You continue to amaze me, Gilligan," the Professor told him fondly. Gilligan had matured a bit since their time on the island, and he was proving it this morning.
Gilligan shrugged in response, and took another huge bite of his banana.
Roy looked back to the ridge, then turned to Gilligan. "Let's make efficient use of my being confined here, Gilligan!"
"Okay, how?"
"Do you know Morse code?"
"Of course."
"Here's what Mary Ann and I will do. We're going to be spending a week up there, and every morning, two hours after sunrise, we'll signal to you down here via a little mirror we'll take with us. I stood on an outcropping of rock up there and saw the lagoon just fine. If you stand over there, on the promontory, you'll see the signal. That way, you'll all know we're okay. And if you DON'T get a signal, you'll know we're in trouble."
"That sounds like a great idea, Professor! And we can send back a signal to acknowledge."
"Yes. Very good, Gilligan. That way you five won't have to be concerned too much."
They told the Skipper their idea of sending signals each morning when he joined them a few minutes later.
"That's a great idea, Professor! And it'll help us get a visual idea of where this cave of yours is."
"That was my other thought, yes," Roy answered.
Gilligan stood up and pointed to the wedding float. "Now that you're here, Skipper, I'll finish up the decorations on the float. Make sure you keep him away from Mary Ann!"
"Yes, yes, Gilligan, I will. Now go away."
Once assured his little buddy was out of hearing range, the Skipper turned to the Professor, with a twinkle in his blue eyes.
"So, Professor," he nudged him playfully. "Excited?"
"Oh my God, Skipper, I can't even begin to tell you! The night we spent up there, well..."
He left the sentence hanging, letting the Skipper finish it in his mind.
"And you say you two didn't...?"
Roy laughed, "No, we didn't. Really. Not for lack of WANTING to, mind you! Boy, did I ever want to! But Mary Ann and I are agreed on this, that we'd wait till our wedding night. Now I'm counting the seconds, the minutes, the hours!"
"Scared?"
"Terrified."
The two laughed, enjoying this quiet moment of camaraderie. They rarely had a chance to simply sit and chew the fat as they had that morning. It was refreshing to Roy, not having anything major planned to do that day. It was not only Mary Ann's day of pampering, it was his day to kick back and relax with his friends, before the big day tomorrow.
"What's Gilligan got in mind for my bachelor party tonight? Dancing girls? Debauchery, carousing?"
"You wish. My hooch, music and poker."
"Even better. And good company. No women hanging about to bring us down."
"Yep. Mr. Howell's got a fine dinner jacket for you to wear tomorrow, so you'll shine as purty as your blushing bride."
"That's wonderful, I must remember to thank him for the kind thought."
The two men sunk into a comfortable silence, watching the waves of the lagoon lap at the shoreline as they were lost in thought.
"Well, Skipper," Roy began.
"Hmmmm?" Jonas said, looking up at Roy.
"What about you?"
"Me?"
"Yes, what about you, and maybe... Ginger?"
Jonas laughed, and kicked a rock near his foot into the water. "Don't I wish."
"You're rather taken with her, aren't you?"
"In a big way, yeah. But her? She barely knows I exist. I'm the Captain, the Skipper, the one holding us all together so we can survive."
"I don't know about that, Skipper. Have you ever really tried?"
"Tried?"
"Sure, have you ever even TOLD her how you feel?"
Jonas blushed, ducking down to pick up another rock while he considered his answer. "Um, no, I guess I haven't. Didn't want to bother. I mean, look at her! Look at ME! She's used to those young handsome studs in Hollywood, not big old sea captains like me."
"Oh, nonsense! Yes, you're a big man, but you're strong, you're healthy. And she needs that, not some little fluffs hanging about on her because she's a movie star. You two have been through the fire and back together, you two have survived, like all of us have. What young up-and-coming movie star can say that? I don't see any of THEM stranded on an island for years!"
When Jonas remained quiet, Roy put his arm over the man's broad back. "Jonas, listen to me. What she needs, now more than ever, is a MAN, a real man, like you. Someone who wants to take care of her, to fuss over her and protect her. She was out among the wolves of Hollywood, doing quite well on her own, but you know her type. She'd be more than happy to be your woman, your wife, I just know it."
Roy sat up again. "Besides, you'll never know until you talk to her! Look how long Mary Ann and I went, over a year, without truly talking to one another. All that wasted time! We could've been married and had a baby on the way by now!"
"Baby?" Jonas asked, amazed at the suggestion.
Roy smiled at the thought, and the expression on his friend's face. "Yes, a baby. She and I talked about it, and decided if it happens, we'll welcome it. If not, that's okay too, because she and I will be together."
"A baby," Jonas wondered aloud. A father. Maybe I could even be a father. A son, maybe a daughter, a little girl. She'd be Ginger in miniature. The more he thought on that prospect, the more he was convinced that he should talk to her. What's the worst she could do? Say no? He'd heard it enough times from women, and survived. If she shot down the suggestion of them being together, he had no problem continuing the respectful and polite distance. It's what he had any way, wasn't it?
"Yes, a baby," Roy said, chuckling as he too had pondered the idea of fatherhood.
Funny how things change, Roy thought. Four years ago, who would've thought he and I would be sitting here, talking about weddings, wives and fatherhood? But Roy was right, when he'd told Mary Ann about the driving need to carry on the species. The idea of rescue had been dwindling in them all for some time, and they, as a group, were finally accepting that they may end their lives on the little island.
To carry on to another generation wasn't such a bad idea, was it? Heck, by the time anyone showed up, discovering this little oasis in the big Pacific Ocean, they could have a thriving community going. But that was something to think about down the line, Roy realized. He was getting too caught up in the thought and the melancholy of their situation, and this was a day to be enjoyed.
The Professor stood and stretched his muscles from having been sitting so long.
"Well, enough heavy thoughts on what may lie ahead for us, Skipper! Just think about what I said, okay?"
"I'm thinking, I'm thinking!"
He stood as well, stretching his back muscles.
"What's next? You follow me about as Gilligan was doing?"
"You bet. C'mon, I'm sure we can find something useful to do, until we feed ourselves supper, then on to the lagoon and the partying!"
By sunset, after a few harrowing moments of keeping the two lovers apart, Gilligan informed the men that everything was ready at the lagoon.
When they were arrived, the Skipper, the Professor and Mr. Howell were impressed by Gilligan's industry. He'd carefully cleaned the surrounding beach of all debris, set the little table up with four stumps for chairs, hauled a barrel of the famous Skipper hooch in, and retrieved the Skipper's playing cards. The radio, and four drinking cups, were set on a fifth stump. Flaming tiki lamps were placed strategically around the playing area, so they could drink and carouse till the wee hours of the morning.
And Gilligan had every intention of being certain the Professor did so.
"Here we are, men! Who's dealing?"
The Skipper handed the deck to Roy. "Your call, Professor, what's your pleasure?"
Ove the next several hours, after the rapid dusk had faded over the Pacific Ocean, the four men got rowdier and rowdier, the hooch flowing freely through them all. They'd rarely had such moments, none of them being heavy drinkers, so they were letting loose for this special occasion.
The captain and first mate of the Minnow had had their drinking evenings together, that was true, but rarely had they ever seen Mr. Howell or the Professor in such a fashion. The four of them were sharing the dirtiest, most ribald jokes they could think of, trying to out-do one another.
The Professor stunned them all with a very visual joke, and the other three roared with laughter. Gilligan was so far gone he fell off his stump, knocking one of the tiki lamps over, and that only served to send the other three men into further gales of laughter.
They were causing so much ruckus that the women, in the their hut, had to pause in their own carousing to listen in.
"Shhhhh," Jonas motioned sloppily, "we don't wanna drag the girls here to see what's going on!"
"No, no, we can't have that!" Mr. Howell declared, gulping down the remains of his third cup. "I would be most scandalized if Lovey saw me in such a state!"
"Yes, yes, MOST scandalized," Gilligan said, doing his best Mr. Howell impersonation. That fueled another laughing jag, and it was a few moments before any could speak again.
The Skipper stood and motioned to the men to settle down a minute. He swayed where he stood, his brow crinkling as he tried to remember what he was going to do.
"Oh, yeah, I remember! Gentlemen, a toast! To our groom! May he and his intended enjoy many years together, and many babies together! As long as we all shall live!"
Roy blushed as Mr. Howell and Gilligan thumped on the table, howling their approval and cheers.
"Babies! Lots of babies!" Gilligan yelled, gulping down his drink after he saluted the Professor with his cup.
"I dunno about that," Roy slurred, gulping his own brew down. "We'll see. But for tonight! We have fun! Gilligan, crank that music up, I love that song!"
Gilligan did as he was told, and the four men started dancing and moving to the song, so very popular with the young crowd on the Mainland and Hawai'i.
They all sang, or rather hollered, along with the vocalist. Even Mr. Howell was joining in, not knowing the song but moving to the driving beat any way.
"Louie, Louie, oh no, we gotta go! Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah!" they yelled, pointing and laughing at one another and dipping their cups into the barrel for more hooch.
It painted a wonderful scene as the four men had their time together. No worries, no women around, no volcanoes to run from or natives to negotiate with.
Later, as the three men literally threw Roy down onto his bunk, he only had a quick moment of lucid thought, thinking that was one of the best nights he'd ever had in his entire life, and then sleep overwhelmed him and he was gone.
(A/N: Okay, I lied. The NEXT chapter is the big day, then the one after is the honeymoon. Stay tuned. Reviews rock. Please, won't you give one, today?)