"Skipper, can I talk to you?"
His best friend sat down on the lower bunk. The cane chairs would've come in handy then, but they were still in the clearing Gilligan and Ginger used for lessons. "What is it, Little Buddy?"
Gilligan had spent all day thinking about how to lead up to this, but he found himself blurting out, "I think I'm in love with Ginger!"
"Those must be some dance lessons!"
Gilligan grimaced. He'd have to admit this part, too, since it was connected to the other part. "Um, actually, I lied. Or at least I didn't correct you when you guessed. She's teaching me something else."
"Lovemaking?" the Skipper said quietly.
Gilligan was a little surprised that the Skipper guessed so quickly, but then the Skipper was a man of the world. "Um, yeah. She's teaching me to be the world's greatest lover."
He paused, expecting the Skipper's guffaw here. The Skipper did smile, but he just said, "Go on."
"Well, obviously it'll take a long time. But so far it's a lot of fun. For both of us. But last night was different. It was the first night we were, um, really together. And I felt different about her."
"In what way?"
"Well, I've always liked Ginger. But last night I felt like she's the most special, wonderful girl in the world. And I want to be with her forever." He blushed saying it to the Skipper, but he wasn't ready to say it to Ginger yet.
"Gilligan, was this during or after you were 'together'?"
"Well, both. But I still feel that way today. I'm thinking of proposing tonight." Maybe the Skipper would have some good advice on what to say, although that might be more of a question for Mr. Howell.
"Whoa, slow down, Little Buddy! I'm sure you had a great time with Ginger, and I'm happy for you, but why the big rush?"
"Isn't that what people do when they fall in love?"
"Sometimes. But, well, first of all, is Ginger in love with you?"
"I'm not sure," Gilligan admitted. "I should probably ask her, huh?"
"Maybe. But first give it some more thought about whether you're in love with her."
Gilligan realized he had nothing to compare it to, except what he saw in the movies, and he'd never seen a situation exactly like this. "But what about all these feelings I've never had before?"
"Those are great feelings," the Skipper said, with a dreamy, maybe reminiscing look on his face. "And Ginger's a very sweet girl to make your first time so special. She's a wonderful girl in a lot of ways."
Gilligan was tempted to say that it hadn't happened the first time. It was the third and last time he was inside her that he fell for Ginger. But he didn't have the vocabulary to explain to the Skipper what he had felt, except that it was magical and natural at the same time and it made him happy like never before.
The Skipper shook his head and looked at Gilligan more seriously. "But you're young and you're going to meet a lot of girls in your life."
"On the island?" Gilligan said skeptically.
"We won't be here forever. And what if you meet a girl you like better but you're tied to Ginger?"
"I don't see how another girl could make me feel the way Ginger does."
"No, not exactly the same. Every girl is different. And you might find one who makes you feel better, and not just physically."
Gilligan wanted to explain that this wasn't just physical with Ginger. She was sweet and patient, but also playful and creative. She was the girl of his dreams and they could be anything together.
But before he could find the right words, someone knocked.