6-President Gilligan

"Why aren't you two working?"

A young man, still with his messy brown hair, was looking sternly at two men, who were supposed to be working.

"President Gilligan — We were just taking a break," one quickly spoke up.

Gilligan glared at him. "Skipper, I am the leader now, and as such, I won't accept laziness. You and the Professor should be done. You've been here four hours now!" Gilligan scolded them.

"But, Sir," the Professor tried to speak, and Gilligan glared at him. "Enough. I'm the one who found that water, and if you care for even a sip of it..." Gilligan started, but then he felt a drop on his head.

"Oh, looks like rain," he said, and then sat up gasping.

He was drenched in water — His expensive clothing gone, and he was back in his brother's shirt and his own white hat.

"Gilligan — There you are!" the Skipper said, as Gilligan spit out water.

"Hi Skipper, I guess I dozed off. Like my tower?" Gilligan asked, his voice no longer powerful, but meek like himself.

"Yes Gilligan — I mean, Mr. President," Skipper answered. He was trying to be nice to his young friend. The tower looked scrawny, and was only a couple of feet tall. "You should make it stronger, though," he commented casually, and Gilligan scoffed.

"This tower is solid as a rock, Skipper," he said, and gave it a hard smack. The tower broke in half and landed on the Skipper, burying him.

"GILLIGAN!!! You idiot! When I catch you..." Skipper bellowed, but Gilligan had already darted off. He nearly knocked the Professor over in his haste.

"Sorry, Professor! Can't chat — got to save my neck!" Gilligan apologized quickly, never slowing his pace.

"Your neck?" the Professor started to ask, but the young first mate was already gone. "Oh." The scientist noted the Skipper struggling to remove the broken tower from his shoulders, and the Professor quickly ran to help him.

"Thanks, Professor," the Skipper grunted. "I can't believe he won the election — look at this mess!" He kicked the debris, scowling.

"Don't be too hard on him, Skipper. We weren't exactly willing to help the boy," the Professor said, and the Skipper sighed.

"I say we dump the whole president thing — everyone knows I should be in charge. After all, I am the Captain."

"On the sea maybe! This is dry land. I say I'm in charge! I'll bribe everyone!" Mr. Howell interrupted the Skipper, rushing down to where the Professor stood, by the lagoon shore.

"Now, see here, Howell. I'm still Captain!"

"Captain! Bah! I'm the one who knows how to make a good deal!"

"Bribery is not a good deal!"

"It is when you have the money!"

The Professor shook his head as the two argued. He was walking back toward camp when a voice stopped him.

"The Skipper still after me, Professor?"

"No, Gilligan. He and Mr. Howell are having a disagreement."

"Oh — at least their not fighting!"

"That's... Never mind. Gilligan, please, go collect some fruit for dinner," he asked.

"Yes, Sir," Gilligan answered. The Professor started to leave, but stopped when Gilligan sighed. "Professor, why is it that no one listens to me?" he asked, but rambled on before Professor could speak. "I know I wasn't supposed to win, but I did find the water, and I don't think anyone cares," Gilligan finished, with a dejected look.

The Professor folded his arms and took a breath. "Gilligan," he began, but the little buddy had already turned away. The Professor reached out to stop him, but Gilligan began to run. "Sorry, Professor! I shouldn't bother you with my stupid questions," he said.

The Professor gritted his teeth. Guilty of what Gilligan said, he turned and marched back to where the two men were still arguing. Putting two fingers in his mouth, he let out a shrill whistle.

"Both of you are very important men, and both of you are acting like children!" he yelled and both men stopped arguing to give the scientist stunned looks. "I know today we had an unusual winner in our election, but we shunned him like he was garbage. He just walked past me with the saddest look.." the Professor said, more softly now.

Both men looked ashamed.

"I guess... I treat him fairly, don't I?" the Skipper asked first, and the Professor raised a brow.

"You'd make a good millionaire; you drive the boy like a servant," Mr. Howell sneered, and then gave the captain a cocky look.

"Don't even think about it, Howell. Gilligan works for me," the Skipper said, and the Professor rolled his eyes.

"Enough!"

XXX

Meanwhile, Gilligan had picked a bunch of bananas. Putting them on the table, he sighed and pulled his diary out of his pocket and stared at it for a moment, and then took up the pencil he kept tucked inside it.

"Some days, Diary, I have a feeling you're my only friend here. You at least listen to me!" he said, and then sat down to write.

Dear Diary,

Its almost a munth since we got meroned. I think evryone thinks im sum kind of slave. we dug a well for water and mr howell kept trying to get me to hlp him. we held an elacshun to see who kuld run the iland, I won diary. no one card thow. I even fond watr in the pit we dug, I hopd it wuld mak them lik me but I gess Im just dumb luck Gilligan.

your freind

Gilligan

Gilligan looked around and sighed again. He suddenly felt very tired, and he went into his hut, and climbed in his hammock clutching his diary. "My only friend," he murmured, and then he was fast asleep.

XXX

It was two hours later that he heard music playing from the radio. The castaways were laughing joyously. Gilligan woke up and stumbled out of the hut.

"Gilligan, my hero!" Mary Ann first to see him, threw her arms around him as he got to the table.

"Gilligan, little buddy, take my seat," the Skipper acknowledged him. Gilligan sat down, but was very confused.

"Here, Gilligan my boy, have some delicious water," Mr. Howell handed him a glass. Gilligan took it, but then suddenly felt Ginger throw her arms around his neck.

"Oh, Gilligan, you're so wonderful!" she cooed, and kissed his cheek.

"Wonderful? What's going on?" Gilligan asked, nearly choking on the cold water.

"Gilligan! Don't you know a party when you see one? Thurston, we should get the boy some glasses," Mrs. Howell whispered to her husband.

"A party? For what?"

"You, Mr. President. We treated you unfairly, Gilligan. This is our thanks for getting us this great water," the Professor spoke up.
"I... don't know what to say!"

"Then don't say anything! Let's dance Gilligan; I always wanted to dance with someone important," Mary Ann said, and dragged Gilligan to an open space.

XXX

It was hours later when Gilligan crawled back out of the hut with his diary:

"Dear Diary,

I don't under stand them. A partie for me? it was really gud, but I think wer dun with this presidunt thing. I know I am, way to hard.

Gilligan