MY FAIR GILLIGAN

"You're not serious, Mr. Howell," the Skipper said, backing away from the rich man.

Mr. Howell's grin told him his answer.

"Don't worry, Skipper. We'll do what you did for me, and you'll be a worse son than..." Gilligan started to say, stopping when the Skipper elbowed him… hard.

"You, Gilligan?" Mr. Howell asked with a cocky smile.

Gilligan felt ashamed. "I'm sorry, Mr. Howell. I didn't... Wait a minute…" Gilligan said, and turned around to see the Skipper whistling.

"Skipper how could you?" Gilligan asked, his ashamed look replaced with one of hurt and betrayal.

Mister Howell walked over quickly, and stepped in front of Gilligan. He didn't, Gilligan. I've met a lot of people in my life - I can sense a lie, even a good one," Mr. Howell explained.

"Mr. Howell..." Gilligan started, but his shame crept back, and he had to turn away… Away from the man he learned to respect as another father-figure.

Mr. Howell sensed it was time to leave. Lifting his left hand, he let it drop on the younger man's shoulder and clutched it hard, like a father.

"I'm not angry Gilligan. You have a right to be yourself! I was only expressing my gratitude. Mrs. Howell means the world to me, and you saved her. I thank you."

Gilligan felt like crying. It was just as horrible - perhaps worse - as when he hurt his own father.

"Mr. Howell…" Gilligan turned around, but the man was gone. "Skipper, he hates me, doesn't he?" Gilligan asked; his voice choking as he tried to push back his tears.

"Gilligan…" Skipper crossed over to him and Gilligan's flood gates opened.

"While I was there, I felt like a prisoner - I hated being in those clothes - all I wanted to do was have fun!" Gilligan cried. The Skipper hugged his little buddy.

"We all understand Gilligan. Everyone needs to be themselves," Skipper said.

"Then why do I feel like I hurt him?" Gilligan asked. He wrenched himself away from his friend and before the Skipper could answer him, Gilligan had darted off.

"Mr. and Mrs. Howell - let me in! I want to be your son again!" he yelled, pounding on the large hut's doors.

Mrs. Howell opened the door and smiled at her visitor.

"Mrs. Howell, it was all a set-up - the martini poured on the Professor, the pie - everyone helped me plan it, and I'm sorry, I just..." Gilligan said, his words jumbling together.

Mrs. Howell took Gilligan's shoulders, ordering him to calm down and take a few deep breaths. When he was finally composed, she led him to her bed.

"Sit."

Gilligan sat and waited for her to yell, or lecture him, something to show he had done wrong, but she smiled at him instead.

"I admit, you had me fooled with your act, but Mr. Howell and I talked about it, and it's all right, Gilligan," she answered, gently sitting down beside him. Mr. Howell, who was sitting at his wife's make-up table, glanced out from behind his tattered newspaper and nodded.
"I didn't want to hurt your feelings," Gilligan said, to the sand floor, averting his eyes.

Mrs. Howell half-hugged him. "We were only trying to show our gratitude. Because of you, I'm alive. I thank you, my dear - now go and catch those silly butterflies, or whatever it is you do," she said, and it felt like a rock had been lifted from his chest.

"Okay. Thanks for making me your son, Mrs. Howell," he replied, and leaving a kiss on her cheek, he hurried out, looking for someone to hunt butterflies with, feeling better than ever.

"That boy did make a wonderful son Thurston. He's a bit strange, but he is… oh so sweet!" Mrs. Howell said to her husband once they were alone. Her hand brushed her cheek, dashing away a tear.

"Yes, the boy does have a heart of Fort Knox, my dear," he agreed.

That night, Gilligan could barely express himself as he wrote:

Dear Diary,

I got adopted cause I savd Mrs. Howell's life. Funy cause I couldnt save Mary Ann from drownin. The Howells gave me expinsiv cloths, too. Wasnt much fun tho. Nobudy let me have fun, Skipper, prafeser and the gerls helped me out of it, but the Howells saw threw my act. They werent mad tho - funny since I runed there cloths. I hope I stays conectid to these peopl diary, I dunt ever wants to los them.

Gilligan