Ginger knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, but she found herself doing it twice in a row. The first time it happened while she was passing the Howells' hut.
"Lovey Darling, why are you crying?"
"Because Mary Ann was crying!"
"Is this like yawning being contagious?"
"It's to do with the reason she was crying."
"What was the reason?"
"She said she stubbed her toe."
"That's unfortunate but no reason for you to cry."
"No, you don't understand. That wasn't the real reason. But that's what she told me when I wanted her to confide in me."
"Confide about what?"
"About Gilligan!"
"You've lost me, Lovey."
Mrs. Howell sighed. "Haven't you noticed how he's been following Ginger around like a little puppy this week?"
"Well, he probably has a little crush on her from the dance lessons. After all, dance means romance."
"It's more than that, especially today at mealtimes. And Ginger was looking fondly at Gilligan. And I think Mary Ann is jealous. "
"Well, you may be right, but it's inevitable, isn't it, after all this time? All these unmarried people on a tropical island. I'm surprised it took so long for a romance to develop."
"Oh, Thurston, you know I have nothing against romance, but this is the wrong one. Gilligan needs to be with Mary Ann, and Ginger needs to be with the Professor."
"Isn't that for them to say?"
"Not if I know better than they do. And I can understand Gilligan having his head turned by Ginger's glamour, but she's too sophisticated for him. He won't fit in to her world when we're rescued."
"Lovey, it's not worth upsetting yourself over all this. We don't know what the future will bring, and this between Gilligan and Ginger may fizzle out. Or maybe they'll fall in love and you can matchmake the Professor and Mary Ann."
Ginger assumed he was kidding, but she suddenly felt possessive of the Professor. Mrs. Howell was right. This was a mismatch if you thought in terms of anything serious. But it wasn't meant for anything long-term. She'd teach Gilligan until they tired of each other. Then they'd go back to being friends, but with this lovely shared secret memory.
She did feel funny about Mary Ann. Maybe her friend had been crying over nothing, or maybe she was more bothered by Ginger's lessons than she usually let on. Ginger didn't want to hurt her, but if Mary Ann wouldn't speak up for herself, what was Ginger supposed to do?
As for Gilligan having a crush, well, it was natural that he'd think more fondly of her after what they'd experienced. She felt the same way, but she knew it wasn't like being in love, not real love. It wasn't like they had much in common or had shared any deep thoughts. They just had this special thing together, separate from the rest of life on the island, and totally foreign to life back home.
Ginger slowly wandered away from the Howells' hut, thinking about all this, and then she found herself outside the sailors' hut. And she heard Gilligan telling the Skipper that he was in love with her! She hadn't realized he felt that way. And she didn't know if it was just Gilligan's lack of experience with other women, or if he genuinely had such strong feelings for her.
She really didn't know what to do. And it was an hour until their date, so she'd have to decide quickly. She was glad that the Skipper was advising Gilligan to not get carried away, but she didn't know if the younger sailor would listen.
And she knew she shouldn't keep listening, but she couldn't help it. Until finally she decided on something. She knocked and the Skipper answered.
"Oh, hi, Ginger." He understandably looked self-conscious, if less than Gilligan did.
"Hi, Skipper. Um, Gilligan, could you meet me at my hut tonight?"
"Sure, Ginger. Or we could leave right now if you want."
"No, in an hour's fine."
She planned to go straight back to her own hut after she left Gilligan's, but along the way she saw Mary Ann entering the Professor's hut. She was very tempted to go eavesdrop, but she felt like she'd heard enough for the moment. And it'd be better to confront Mary Ann when they were alone.
However, it was almost eight o' clock by the time her roommate returned. Ginger couldn't help wondering what Mary Ann had to say to the Professor. He seemed an unlikely person to confide romantic feelings about Gilligan to. Or was she perhaps confiding romantic feelings about the Professor himself? Maybe over time, her interest had shifted away from Gilligan, and that was why she hadn't objected to Ginger's lessons. Or maybe this was about something else entirely, something she didn't want to tell Ginger.
Mary Ann got back at five till. She didn't look guilty but she did look surprised. "Aren't you going to change for your, um, meeting with Gilligan?"
Ginger looked down at the muumuu she'd put on when she came back to the empty but. "I did change. And I'm not going out tonight."
"You're not?"
"No, I'm too tired." That was true. She hadn't gotten nearly enough sleep that week. "I'm staying in."
"But what about Gilligan?"
"I think you should go with him."
"Me! But I can't teach him...!"
"Nonsense, you're a great dancer."
Mary Ann knew that Ginger knew that Mary Ann knew that these weren't dance lessons. But Mary Ann looked as if she didn't know what to say.
And then someone knocked on the door.