THE POSTMAN COMETH

"Skipper does that mean I have a dead guy's book?" Gilligan asked, staring at the book as though it were haunted.

"Oh, Gilligan – here - I'll hold on to it," Mary Ann offered, and took the book.

"Sure Mary Ann."

The young woman opened the book and sat down beside him.

"See? It's a pretty picture book. I guess mushrooms are smaller…" Gilligan said, trailing off as he looked over her shoulder. Mary Ann nodded, but she wasn't really listening. "Hey, you all right Mary Ann?" He tapped her shoulder, and she jumped slightly.

"Oh… uh… yes Gilligan," she answered, but she was fibbing again. She looked at him then the Skipper and sighed. Sure, the men liked her, but it just didn't feel the same…

"Sorry, Gilligan. May I take the book with me?" she asked, and he nodded.

"I'll see you two later. The stew smells good," she said, and hurried off carrying the book. She went back into her hut and shut the door, then picked up a small framed picture she hidden in a box under her bed.

"I'm such a fool," she murmured to it, and then reached into the box for paper and a pencil.

"Dear Aunt Martha and Uncle George,

You were right; I'm not a very good liar. I don't know how, but I always get caught don't I? For the past few days I conned Gilligan, the one I told you about, to deliver letters to Horace Higginbotham, who apparently got married.

That led to possibly the strangest dream I ever had. I thought I was dying of poisoned mushrooms, you should have seen how crazy the boys got! The Professor was Cary Grant, the Skipper Marshall Dillon and Gilligan was Charles Boyer.

Anyway, don't worry I'm fine. The guys aren't madly in love with me; they just care about me like a friend. I actually sort of wish one of them did like me more, but I'll take their friendship I suppose.

I miss you both – and Mom…

Love,

Mary Ann

She put the pencil down and stared at her letter. She wasn't sure she wanted to send it. She decided to leave it, and make up her mind later and hurried out to get some water and a snack, just missing Gilligan who arrived at her hut, moments after she had departed.

Gilligan knocked and waited for a second before opening the door. When he did, he noticed the paper Mary Ann had left on the desk.

"I hope this isn't to Horace!" he said to himself, knowing he shouldn't peek. Gilligan looked at it though, telling himself it was only to make sure. The moment he began reading, he saw who it was for, and knew he should stop, but he couldn't, and read it all. "Oh, wow," he murmured, just as the pretty brunette returned.

"Gilligan? This isn't your hut! What are you doing in here?" she asked, angrily.

"Uh… me? Nothing, Mary Ann… I gotta go," he said, and ran off, feeling badly about reading her letter.

Mary Ann stared at the door as it swung shut and turned to see the letter sitting there where she left it, and gasped. She hurried out to find Gilligan who had stopped to pick some flowers.

"Here, Mary Ann… I read your letter and I'm sorry. I'll be your boyfriend, though, I mean… I don't want to see you sad."

"Oh. Gilligan, don't start this up again! It was weird seeing you three like that."

"We were only trying to make you forget Horace, but I guess you don't even like him.

"I know. I'm sorry I tricked you like that. I guess I AM just a silly girl."

"Don't say that… I kind of had fun being Charles. Mostly I just want you to be happy."

Mary Ann, touched by Gilligan's kindness, kissed his cheek.

"Thank you, for the talk Gilligan. I am… happy now," she said, and hurried off, holding her flowers.

Gilligan wiped his cheek and pulled out his diary.

Dear Diary,

I nevur gessed Mary Ann could lye.. She told me she had a boy frend but she don't even lik the guy, gess prafesor cant giv bad news ether cus she thawt she was dyen. Glad she is not. I got to be Charles Boyer though, me skipper and prafesser sur actid goofy
Gilligan