11-ANGEL ON THE ISLAND

Jonas Grumby glared at his little buddy, and only crew member, Gilligan. "Oh come on, Gilligan! I wasn't that bad..." he said, after a few minutes of silence. Gilligan sighed and avoiding his big buddy's gaze, started toying with knots on the tree, holding up their clothesline.

"Why are you so interested in my opinion? It was all for Ginger, anyway," Gilligan said, finally. He was desperate to avoid the subject, and Skipper's hat.

"I guess, but I still think I did a great job on stage," the Skipper went on. He began pacing, but then stopped. "Besides, it was your fault for making me forget my lines — you also had me out on stage almost naked," Skipper said, and Gilligan looked at the ground, avoiding eye contact.

"I'm just glad Mrs. Howell's voice came back. It was sure strange how quickly she lost and found it," Gilligan tried to change the subject. He was just glad Ginger was happy again.

"Yeah... Wait! When did she lose her voice?" the Skipper asked puzzled.

"I went to the Howells hut to convince Mrs. Howell to be nice and let Ginger have what she loves most — center stage. She suddenly couldn't speak and Mr. Howell had me get Ginger. I heard her say bravo, though," Gilligan said.

The Skipper smiled fondly at his friend. "Gilligan, I think Mrs. Howell was faking, to be nice," he said calmly. He patted Gilligan's shoulder then. "Come on, little buddy, let's forget the acting business. The sea is our stage, anyway," Skipper said, and Gilligan nodded as they walked back to camp.

"You're not mad?"

"No little buddy, you were right. The play was for Ginger," Skipper answered, with a happy smile.

XXX

At camp, Ginger was debating whether to see Mrs. Howell.

"She was nice enough to give your part back, Ginger," Mary Ann said, after suggesting her roommate thank the rich woman.

"Why, Mary Ann, is the real question! She had Mr. Howell wrapped around her pinkie, then suddenly she loses her voice, yet she spoke loud and clear with her cheering," Ginger said, pacing the hut floor as Mary Ann watched from her bed.

"Maybe you should find out?" she suggested, and Ginger stopped pacing to grin at the younger girl.

"You're a genius, Mary Ann. I'll get the truth out of our rich castaways," she decided, and hurried out. Mary Ann followed her.

"Good luck," she encouraged the movie star, but bit her nail, slightly worried.

"Hi, Mary Ann," Gilligan called, as he and the Skipper walked up to her.

"Hi, boys," she greeted them, but then turned her gaze back toward the Howell's large hut.

"What's going on, Mary Ann? Something wrong with the Howells?" the Skipper asked, concerned, but the brunette shook her head.

"No, Ginger went to thank Mrs. Howell; least I hope she thanks her, she is suspicious of her sudden charity, and I don't exactly blame her," Mary Ann explained.

"I don't get it, Skipper. Mrs. Howell seemed really nice to me — she didn't even talk or argue when I asked her to give the part back to Ginger," Gilligan commented.

Mary Ann turned and gaped at the young man in shock. She then turned back and scowled at the hut. "I don't think "nice" is the right word, Gilligan," she said, and then turned back and gave Gilligan a sweet smile. She grabbed his arm and kissed his cheek before scampering back into her hut.

"What was that for?" Gilligan wondered, and Skipper only smiled at his naive friend.

XXX

Ginger hurried up to the large hut, but stopped to knock.

"Who is it?" Mrs. Howell called out.

"It's Ginger. May I come in?"

"Of course."

Ginger walked in and greeted Mr. Howell, then strolled to where Mrs. Howell was sitting at her table fixing her hair while looking at her small hand mirror.

"Mrs. Howell, I wanted to thank you for letting me have the lead..." she began, and Mrs. Howell smiled, and put down the mirror.

"The stage really isn't for me. I prefer to sit and be entertained," Mrs. Howell replied, and Ginger smiled softly. She turned to leave, but stopped at the door.

"You really should be in bed, Mrs. Howell. Gilligan told me you lost your voice," she said.

"Ha! A Howell sick in bed! My dear Ginger, Lovey is fine, I assure you." Mr. Howell spoke up. Ginger felt disappointed, but with her acting skills, it was hard to notice.

"You really should rest, though, Mrs. Howell. Bugs can't determine class," she tried again.

Mrs. Howell smiled, got up, and walked over to the young actress.

"My dear, I must be honest with you. Gilligan asked me to give up the part to make you happy — such a sweet boy!" explained.

"He... did?" Ginger asked stunned at the news. It occurred to her then that Mrs. Howell didn't do it for her. She smiled sweetly at the woman, though.

"Well, thank you, Mrs. Howell. It did mean a lot to me. I'm lucky to have good friends," she said, and with a wave, she left. Outside, though, she stuck her tongue at the hut.

"What an actress!" she muttered, walking back to her hut.

XXX

"Hey, find anything out?" Mary Ann asked when she opened the door.

Ginger sat on her bed with a sigh. "Yeah, if it weren't for Gilligan, I'd still be crying," she said. Mary Ann smiled and went over to her friend. She sat next to her and pulled her into a short, sweet, hug.

"At least she changed her mind. You were wonderful on stage!" she whispered, and Ginger grinned and stood up, breaking the hug.

"I was, wasn't I?" she said proudly. "I told Mrs. Howell I'm lucky to have such good friends, and I do mean that," Ginger then said.

"We are a tight little bunch, huh?" Mary Ann added, with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Yeah," Ginger agreed, crossing to the window. "I'll be back, I've got to get a snack," she added.

Mary Ann nodded, knowing it wasn't a red banana she saw.

XXX

Ginger followed Gilligan to the lagoon. He was about to open his diary when she surprised him. Gilligan fell off the rock he was sitting on, and luckily covered his precious book.

"Ginger, you scared me," he said, as she helped him up.

"Sorry about that," she apologized, and then, suddenly, she rubbed her hands through his messy dark hair. "You wonderful man, you," she kept going, and then, without warning, kissed Gilligan's lips. He fell back to the sand as she stopped. "See ya, later," she waved, and hurried off without another word. Gilligan picked up his book and shook his head, confused as usual.

"Dear Diary,
This iland must hold sum magec power. Ginger kissd me just now. she didnt say why tho. she is hapy agin tho im glad i wish she giv beter presints tho. Mr howell dirictid this play fer her, Skipper needs acten lessens. Mrs Howell wantid to play lead but she losted her voice. it cam bak tho. this iland sur is crzy.

Gilligan