HI-FI GILLIGAN
"So that Ben guy was someone real special, Professor?" Gilligan asked, after a few moments of silence.
"Yes, he was a very smart, incredible man," the Professor answered.
"Yeah, I figured that."
"What's wrong, Gilligan? You look sad; you're a real hero, today," the Skipper spoke up. Gilligan shrugged.
"I was just thinking, Skipper, if that tree we were hiding under had been hit instead of the cave, the world would have lost six great people," he answered.
"Six? Don't you mean seven, Gilligan?" the Professor asked, and Gilligan shook his head.
"No, I mean six, Professor. You're all much more important than a clumsy idiot like me."
"Gilligan let me ask you something then. Why do you think we all huddled under the tree?" the Professor asked, stunned at Gilligan's statement.
Gilligan just stared at the ground. "I don't know Professor. It just didn't seem right, letting any of you go out there," he answered after a minute.
The Professor dropped what he was doing and went to Gilligan. He lifted Gilligan's chin with one hand, and then planted his hands on the young man's shoulders.
"Gilligan, Abraham Lincoln, our sixteenth president once said in a speech that 'A house divided amongst itself cannot stand.' We seven, no matter what happens, have always stuck together, and acted as family and we will continue to do so until we are rescued," he told him, and Gilligan managed a small smile.
"I agree with the Professor! There was no way I could letting you ride out a storm like that alone. No matter how mad you make me, you are still my best friend," the Skipper said, clapping Gilligan on the back.
"Come on, men, let's finish up. We'll have a party to celebrate," the Professor suggested, and both Gilligan and the Skipper cheered his idea.
XXX
An hour later, the three trudged into camp and washed up quickly. After dinner, Professor asked Gilligan to pick fruit for dessert, despite the big bowl on the table being full of fruit. Gilligan looked at the bowl, but then shrugged and ran off to do as he was told.
"But we don't need any more fruit," Mary Ann said, and the Professor nodded.
"I know, but I'm worried about Gilligan, I don't think he feels important. He was really going to sacrifice himself for us," the scientist answered.
Ten minutes later Gilligan returned with a bunch of bananas and was smothered by Ginger and Mary Ann as they tried to kiss him.
"Oh Ginger, to think we nearly lost Gilligan - our bravest man!" Mary Ann squealed.
"I'm not that brave."
"Oh, please, Gilligan, we know you didn't have the short straw! You wanted to sacrifice yourself to save us, and that makes you braver than any man I ever met," Ginger said.
"My boy, you saved us all," Mr. Howell congratulated Gilligan, and Mrs. Howell kissed Gilligan's cheek.
Suddenly music blared from the radio that somehow the Professor had managed to fix after all, and everyone began dancing; the girls fighting over Gilligan.
After a bit, the Skipper turned off the music and clinked a glass. "I just want to say how happy I am to be friends with all of you."
"I agree with the Skipper. I'm glad were all safe," Gilligan chimed in.
XXX
That night he was grinning wildly as he sat at the table to write.
Dear Diary,
I was a radeo for two days. It was really kind of fun till I broke the real radio and stopped bein a radio, when we neded one. I kncked my head agein and saved everyone. Then the prafesser talked abut som guy named Ben. I think he is smartier.
Gilligan