A NOSE BY ANY OTHER NAME
Gilligan! My nose is fine, I just need some cold compresses," Professor said, grabbing the familiar red shirt, stopping the fast man-child from darting away.
"Looks broken to me, Professor. Sure you don't need surgery?" Gilligan asked. The Professor shook his head slightly.
"No, Gilligan! It's the same as happened to you - your nose wasn't broken and my nose isn't broken," the Professor said calmly. It hurts like hell, though, he thought.
"But Ginger can show you new noses," Gilligan went on, being annoying, as usual.
"Why would I need a new nose? I like my nose just fine!"
"Even all red and puffy, I'd take the new nose."
"Gilligan I didn't give you a new nose, the surgery was a sham, remember?" the Professor said, getting annoyed.
"Right, I forgot you're a liar," Gilligan said, folding his arms and pouting slightly.
"Gilligan, you were being unreasonable as ever" the Professor retorted, and stormed off, refusing to feel guilty for just trying to shut Gilligan up.
"Why did you have to get him all upset like that?" the Skipper scolded Gilligan.
"Upset? He's not upset, Skipper. I didn't see any tears, did you, Mr. Howell?" Gilligan answered, and the millionaire rolled his eyes.
"You know what I meant!" the Skipper growled.
"I don't care. I won't apologize to liars."
"Gilligan, if you had only believed the Professor and quit worrying, he wouldn't have had to lie," the Skipper argued.
"So you admit he lied to me! Don't forget Skipper, I was only following orders. I fell at least twenty feet," Gilligan went on, trying for sympathy. "But, I guess I'll go see if he is okay," he finished, and left.
"That boy has been out in the sun too long," Mr. Howell remarked.
"My poor little buddy," Skipper moaned, guilt swirling in his gut like a bad piece of pie.
Gilligan reached the Professor's hut and hesitated a second before knocking. When Professor told him to enter, he wasn't entirely surprised to see the two girls fussing over him.
"How you doing Professor?" he asked, trying to sound concerned.
"Fine, Gilligan. Girls, thanks for the help," he answered, and the girls took the scientist's hint and left.
"Gilligan, I'm sorry if you're sore at me. It was all I could think of to get your mind off your nose. I would never really deceive you," the Professor said. He sounded so genuine that Gilligan felt ashamed.
"I'm not mad," he said, and the Professor gave him a look that said clearly he didn't believe him. "Okay, I'm not mad anymore," he continued and the Professor laughed as he held the wet sponge to his nose. "It was just... I never fell from such a height before… I guess my fear took over," Gilligan said, sheepishly. "See, when I was a kid, I fell hard from my bike - broke my arm three places," he went on, blinking at the faded memory returning.
Professor stood and holding the sponge with his left hand, his chin elevated so he was looking at the roof he reached out and patted Gilligan's arm.
"Still friends?" he asked, and Gilligan took his hand.
"Sure. Thanks, Professor. Hope your nose gets better, but if you still want the surgery..." Gilligan added, and grinned when the Professor glared at him. Then he laughed, too.
"I need some sleep now," Roy Hinkley added. Gilligan nodded, and then left.
Skipper was pacing in their hut, waiting for him to return.
"Gilligan, little buddy, I'm..." he hurriedly said when the man entered.
Gilligan held up his hands in defense. "Easy, Skipper. Sorry for snapping at you, I was mad at the Professor for the fake surgery, but I'm over it now."
The Skipper sighed with relief. He thought it best not to apologize, knowing Gilligan would only shrug it off. "Good to hear," he said instead, and sat in his hammock. He pulled out a book and Gilligan went to the table where his diary sat.
Dear Diary,
Look out! just kiden. I fel out a tree and hurt my nose. Ginger made fak noses so I could pik a new one. Prafeser aranged a fake sergury. I got stuk with my nose tho. Oh well no use mesin with my handsimness I gess.
Gilligan