First mate's log:

March 17, 1973

Peter took the ferry today, to apply for and get a job at Martinelli's Bike Shop on Blenford! It'll be full-time during Spring Break, but not starting until Monday. And then it'll just be Saturdays once school starts up again.

I was surprised he wants to work during his vacation, but he's fourteen and he likes the idea of making his own money. And he likes bikes. I wished him luck of course, and I'll obviously be getting regular updates, since he'll have to ferry over every time. Yeah, he can't exactly bike to work.

I'm lucky that I live so close to the ferry dock, and traveling is part of my job. Of course, that will change when I get married, but I'm still not sure exactly how.

Carol Brady's diary:

March 18, 1973

I'm so proud of Peter. He got his first job! He'll be fixing bikes at Martinelli's on the big island. He starts tomorrow and it'll be full-time this week and then just Saturdays during school.

Yes, it's a big responsibility, especially since he'll have to commute by himself on the ferry. I just hope he can keep his grades up.

He's been dropping strong hints that Mike and I should buy bikes, to keep in shape. I haven't biked in years, not since I was Peter's age I think.

March 19, 1973

Peter told me that he really enjoyed his first day of work. And Mr. Martinelli seems to appreciate how thorough Peter is.

I've been thinking about my job and when the best time would be to talk to Mary Ann and the Skipper about quitting the ferry. I should probably talk to her first, because if she doesn't actually want me to work at her restaurant, there's no point in mentioning it to the Skipper.

March 20, 1973

I'm even more proud of Peter now. He's going to be promoted to salesman! Yes, after only a couple of days as a repairman. (Repair-boy? Sales-boy?) So I'm planning another surprise party, but just for the nine of us. This time, I told all the other kids, even Cindy, since Peter won't be back from Blenford until the evening, and the party will start when he walks in the front door.

March 21, 1973

Peter lost his job and I'm going to quit mine! He thought he was doing great, and he even told me yesterday that Mr. Martinelli thought he'd be a better salesman than repairman. But it was sort of a backhanded compliment. Mr. Martinelli actually thinks Peter is too slow at fixing bikes.

"The worst part is, I told my family how great it was going, because Mr. Martinelli was too nice to tell me I stunk before. I'm such a failure!"

"It's just your first job. There will be others."

He shook his head. "It's not like Mr. Martinelli will give me a reference."

"That's rough. But, wait a minute. If you lost your job, what are you doing on the ferry?"

He sighed. "I didn't have the guts to tell my family last night. Especially since they threw a surprise party for me as 'the new bike salesman.' "

I felt left out, not being invited, especially since I had to go to Alice's surprise party a couple weeks ago just as Mary Ann's date. But I didn't want to bring up my problems of course, and he is just a kid. I just offered sympathy and encouraged him to tell his parents as soon as he can.

He nodded and said, "Yeah, I can't spend my whole salary on ferry fare."

As for me and the ferry, well. I told Mary Ann that, after we get married, I'd like to be a waiter at the Pizza Parlor. She didn't say, "But you're so clumsy," like some people would. She said, "You always did look cute in a waiter's uniform when we'd make little restaurants in the old days, like when we recreated the Howells' first date."

I blushed and said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I'd love for us to work together, but what about the Skipper and the ferry?"

I sighed, kind of like Peter actually. "I feel bad leaving him, but he has other people working for him now. It's not like the old days."

"I know, but it's still hard to let go of the past. For any of us. And he'll always be your best friend."

"I feel like I'm deserting him."

"I know, Sweetie, but the thing is, he's your best friend. He wants you to be happy, and I think he'll understand that you've grown up and you want a life and a home of your own."

I hope she's right, but it's not any easier for me to talk to the Skipper about this than it is for Peter to tell his parents the truth about his "success in business."

March 22, 1973

It turns out that Peter got fired but was afraid to tell us. He kept taking the ferry over to Blenford and apparently spending his time in the park, feeding pigeons. I don't know how long he planned to do that, but presumably he would've said something by the end of vacation, unless he was hoping to keep up the ruse during school.

The only reason Mike and I found out is that we decided to buy bikes at Martinelli's. Mike gets lots of exercise, with golf and helping the boys practice sports, but my hobbies are more sedentary and artistic. We were very surprised when Mr. Martinelli told us that he had to let Peter go because of slow working habits. He was surprised Peter hadn't told us.

"He's a nice boy, very hard-working and loyal, but slow."

Maybe he needs a job where he can just take his time. Well, he's only fourteen, and there's no hurry.

That was one of the things we told him when we found him in the park. (We did buy two bikes, and Mr. Martinelli was even nice enough to hand us Peter's commission, since our son was the one to suggest the purchase. Then we biked around that neighborhood for a few minutes, and luckily Peter hadn't gone far.) Mike said that he's been fired from many jobs. Of course, his work history is different than most men his age, due to the shipwreck and eventual rescue.

I had some part-time jobs as a teenager, like babysitting, but I married young and had the girls. Sometimes I think about getting a part-time job, maybe when Bobby and Cindy are teenagers. Tim didn't want a working wife, but I don't know how Mike would feel. These are different times and it's not like I'm at home with very small children. We have Alice, and we'll probably have six kids to put through college.

Plus, well, I enjoy my hobbies and I enjoy being a mother, but sometimes I feel restless. Well, I won't go job-hunting just yet, even though there's apparently an opening at Martinelli's.