THREE TO GET READY

It was a few hours later when he returned carrying a banana and munching on it happily. "Hey everyone - what's for dinner, Mary Ann?" Gilligan asked, as he greeted six utterly exhausted and filthy-looking people.

Mary Ann looked up at the young man in his white cap and brother's red shirt, and then to the right of her, where a small pile of ten to fifteen banana skins lay.

"About the same as the last four months, Gilligan - Whatever fish you bring me," she said.

"Sure, I'll just go get my pole," Gilligan answered as he tossed another skin on the pile.

"How is it you're still hungry?" Ginger asked, when he returned from his hut carrying the pole.

"Those few bananas didn't fill me up, I guess," he answered and his stomach growled. "See? My stomach agrees, Ginger," Gilligan said, before hurrying off. He slipped the idol from his hand into his pocket, where it fell to the ground. Not noticing what he had done, he kicked sand over the stone, it burying it slightly in his haste to get fish for his never-satisfied stomach.

"I guess I better go get ready for the fish," Mary Ann said, and the others groaned. She disappeared over to the supply hut.

"I suppose we could go look for the idol again - I just want a nice juicy steak," the Skipper said, not for the first time.

"You're wasting your time Skipper, I doubt airplanes carry a cooked steak with all the trimmings," the Professor answered, and the Skipper made a face at him.

"I didn't see that stopping you earlier," Skipper retorted with a cocky grin.

"Oh, will you two stop it! Thurston let's go back and find the silly little idol so we can leave this silly little island," Mrs. Howell interjected, before the Professor could defend his actions.

"Don't bother!" Ginger exclaimed as she finally got up to help Mary Ann. She had hit something with her shoe and bent to pick up the treasure that Gilligan had dropped.

"He's not a very good thrower, much less good aim," Ginger commented, as she examined the Eye of the Idol she was holding. True, if Gilligan had thrown it, it would be more than a couple of feet from where he was sitting.

"I don't think he threw it at all. This was where he was standing just ten minutes ago; it never left his hand when we saw him throw it," the Professor explained, and everyone groaned.

"He tricked us again! I should have seen that coming," the Skipper said, disgusted, and he smacked his hat on a tree, wishing it was Gilligan's head he was hitting.

"Good thing the boy forgot the hole in his pocket then! We should leave him behind!" Mr. Howell exclaimed, as everyone except Mary Ann and Gilligan crowded Ginger and the Idol.

"Oh, Mr. Howell - I wouldn't do that, but what I wish is for Rock Hudson to sweep me off my feet!" Ginger said, clutching the Idol tightly.

A few minutes passed, but no big strong movie star appeared and Ginger still stood firmly on the ground. She pouted and went to throw the Idol away, but the Skipper grabbed her arm.

"Wait a minute Ginger. Gilligan's wishes came true for him - we found both those ice cream tubs in the lagoon," the Skipper said softly.

"Well what are we waiting for? I'm coming, Rocky baby!" Ginger squealed, and grabbing Skipper's hand, she dragged him with her to where Gilligan was fishing. However the first mate's line had snagged on something, and he seemed to be having difficulty with it.

"Hey, Skipper! Look! Someone carved something in this big rock I pulled out of the lagoon," Gilligan told the captain as the two, followed by the Howells and the Professor, joined them.

"Hudson?" Ginger frowned as she looked at the carving on the rock. "NO! This is not MY Rock Hudson, Skipper! Stupid idol!" she exclaimed furiously as she looked at the rock. She chucked the idol and then the rock in the water and Gilligan raced after the Idol.

"Hey, my Idol!" he exclaimed, and lifted it up. He looked at the Skipper who scowled at him. "Oops! Well, look at it this way, Skipper. The Professor said it didn't work so I decided to just keep it," Gilligan explained. He climbed out of the water and took off for the trees with Skipper on his heels, yet again.

XXX

It was a few hours later before Gilligan came back to camp. Instead of greeting everyone, Gilligan quickly hoisted himself up into a tree.

Dear Diary,

Now rocks grent wishes. I got ice crem, both chaklate and vanela. it was gud, but I cant seem to get us off the iland. I wishd for us off and a part of the iland broke away. bad luck diary. Cast aways found I didnt toss the stone away for them to find. I gess they forgot when i was a hero. What a drag!

Gilligan

Gilligan closed his book and made a fist around the stone. "I wish I never found this stupid thing!" he said, and with a flash the stone was gone and Gilligan lost his balance and fell.

"Gilligan! Little buddy! Are you all right?" Skipper asked, worried, as he pulled his friend to his feet, happy to see he wasn't hurt, and he realized he was back in the central area of their camp.

"Yeah, Skipper. I'm sorry about the Idol," Gilligan apologized, but no one seemed to know what he was talking about. In fact, no one looked dirty anymore and Gilligan smiled as he realized the wish was granted. "I guess I re-found the Idol Skipper! It granted my wish, we don't have to worry about it anymore," he said, and the Skipper felt the young man's forehead.

"The boy must have been in the sun too long, Captain! An Idol? Wishes?" Mr. Howell exclaimed, and Gilligan blushed.

"Uh… Yeah, Skipper. I think I wore myself out collecting coconuts," Gilligan explained.

"Gilligan, you have no coconuts," Mary Ann answered, and he groaned.

"I must have dropped them somewhere in the jungle. I'll go get them," he stuttered, and took a step, but faltered.

"Not now, Gilligan. Let's just eat, and you go to bed. Tomorrow we'll collect coconuts," the Skipper said, and Gilligan nodded as he joined the group at the table.