FEED THE KITTY
Gilligan sat and watched the Skipper fall fast asleep, his stomach happy and full, then took the plate and a few items outside with him. His mind wasn't on writing, though, as he stared at the plate that had been filled with corned beef with a sigh.
It didn't surprise her to see him cautiously walk outside, carefully close the door and sit down at the table. She watched him light the candle as she got fresh water to drink. She started to go back to her hut, but stopped when she heard him sigh. He had opened the book but the page remained blank while he stared at an empty plate.
"Are you all right Gilligan?" Mrs. Howell asked.
He looked up and nodded but his face looked dreadfully sad.
"Come on, dear boy! We don't keep secrets from each other, least I don't think we do since you found those dreadful seeds," she said, and he smiled.
"Leo is gone, Mrs. Howell, and I guess I miss him," he admitted and Mrs. Howell nodded.
"Yes, you did seem very anxious to do the circus, Thurston was excited, I believe, as well," she remarked.
"Everyone was to be in it when we got rescued. It would be our own show, The Howell Circus, with only us castaways in it," Gilligan said. It felt good to talk to someone about it. He put his head in his hands. Mrs. Howell thought about leaving, but he began talking again, but she disliked rude people, so she stayed.
"I don't know why I feel this way, Mrs. Howell," he went on, and Mrs. Howell was stunned. He really is just a young, naïve, gullible, clumsy but well-meaning boy, she thought.
"It's your gift my dear - your gift with animals. Those brute apes, and even that terrible lion softened only to you."
Gilligan's eyes lit up. He never realized how special his animal friends were until now, and he looked fondly at his sleeping duck, frog and turtle.
"Leo had a thorn in his paw, and when I saw he was hurt, my fears disappeared. I thought it would be like that fable…"
"What fable?"
"You know, Androcles and the Lion. The runaway slave, Androcles, pulls out the thorn, and in return, the lion becomes his friend."
"Well then, you were Androcles, dear boy."
"Yeah. Thanks, Mrs. Howell. I'm sorry I kept you awake."
"Think nothing of it, Gilligan." Standing up, she leaned over and hugged him for a second, pretending he was her son again, and hurried off. Gilligan watched her leave and opened his diary.
Dear Diary,
A lion washd up on shor. poor Leo was in a crat and it broke open befor getten to the zoo. I fed him conrnd beef and he becam by frend fer a whil cause I pulld a thorn out his paw. Ill miss him Diary…
Gilligan