First mate's log:
January 25, 1974
Well, at first it looked like everything was going to work out. The Bradys actually offered Alice a whole week off, just because she never takes a vacation. So she definitely could've managed the Pizza Parlor for a day or two. And Sam even did the Skipper a favor by calling Mr. Brady about finding an affordable new house, for a "friend," since the Skipper can't ask on his own behalf without the Bradys getting suspicious. (Joyce has all her furniture and stuff she'll need to bring over to this island, since she's been living as a single lady so long, so they'll need more room as a couple.)
Unfortunately, Sam hadn't realized that the actual elopement was planned for Saturday night, the same night as the bowling date he had planned, and he got mad at Alice for canceling the date. He refused to pretend to be picking her up for that date. So now it's going to be tricky for her to leave the Brady house without the family getting suspicious. I have no idea how we're all going to work this out by tomorrow night, but Mary Ann hasn't given up hope yet.
Carol Brady's diary:
January 26, 1974
Oh no! Alice not only isn't eloping with Sam, but they broke up! She thanked us for the offer of a week off, but now she doesn't even want tonight off. She has no interest in "bowling" with Sam. I encouraged her to reconcile, but she's fed up with him.
However, Mike has an ace up his sleeve. Sam doesn't know that Mike knows that Sam wasn't calling for a friend about a house. So Mike will invite Sam over to discuss housing. Yes, it's possible that Sam might say that his friend has changed his mind, about the wedding and/or house, but I'm hoping that Sam will use the opportunity to make up with Alice.
And I of course have no idea what the quarrel was about, but it was probably something to do with their elopement plans. I'm sure it can be resolved, whatever it is, as their past arguments have been.
January 27, 1974
Well, Joyce and the Skipper agreed to switch their elopement to this morning, so Sam and Alice could go on their bowling date. Sam and Alice made up and went bowling. When she came over today before we opened the Pizza Parlor, she told us that the Bradys thought she was eloping!
"With the Skipper?" I said. There was a time when I thought they were sweet on each other, but that was back when there were hardly any of us on the island. They're around the same age and he loves her cooking. But I don't think she's his type, although he's kind of hers. (He and Sam are alike in a lot of ways, but Joyce is more glamorous and sophisticated, although not to Ginger levels of course.)
Alice laughed. "No, no, to Sam." She quickly explained how Marcia and Jan overheard her talking to Mary Ann about the Skipper and Joyce's elopement and the misunderstanding built from that.
As for the actual elopement, it went fine. Alice made the Bradys promise not to tell anyone else, or to interfere with the elopement. But obviously they're not nearly as close to the Skipper as they are to Alice. They like weddings, or at least Mrs. Brady and her daughters do, but I guess they understood that the Skipper and Joyce didn't want a big fuss about theirs.
The Skipper took me and Mary Ann over to Blenford in The Sardine. Since Joyce lives on Blenford, she met us there, which, yeah, isn't exactly an elopement in the sense of him carrying her down a ladder or something. But it's not like they're teenagers defying their parents or something.
She looked nice in an off-white knee-length dress. The Skipper had to change into his tux on the boat, while I steered. I was in one of my nicest suits, and Mary Ann was in pale blue, not yet maternity, but a size or two up from usual.
We went over to the justice of the peace, since the Skipper didn't want a church wedding. It's not that he's not religious, but it was just easier to schedule and then reschedule that kind of ceremony, especially on a Sunday. And Joyce is pretty easy-going, so whatever makes the Skipper happy, makes her happy. (I've never seen them fight, but I can't picture it even in private. Even Mary Ann and I have our little disagreements, although nothing even as bad as the fights the Howells used to have in front of everyone.)
The ceremony was quick and then we all headed over to the hotel, luckily with rooms not near each other. The Skipper is still my best friend, but we both deserve privacy, as do our wives. Mine is in the bathroom right now, making herself even prettier, since this is sort of an early second honeymoon. And it's probably our last chance to get away for a day for a long while. Once the baby comes, we'll be tied down, except for maybe a dinner out every once in awhile, if Jan or someone babysits.
At the same time, I'm looking forward to being a dad and seeing all the cute stuff our baby will do. Only five more months! And then everything will change. In a different way than my best friend the middle-aged bachelor getting married I mean.
January 28, 1974
My goodness, Alice wasn't the one who was eloping! It was all a big misunderstanding, and it was the Skipper eloping with his girlfriend, Joyce! Well, not so much eloping as sneaking off to Blenford for a quiet ceremony. Yes, I'm disappointed, but happy for the Skipper and Joyce.
We ate the refreshments Saturday night, but we put up the decorations at the Skipper's current house, by the lagoon. He obviously hasn't had a chance to buy a new house. Mike is happy to help him do that, now that the deception is over. Yes, I'm a little hurt, after all we went through with the Skipper in the old days, but I will admit we're not as close as we once were. Unlike with Gilligan, where he's like an uncle to my children.
He and Mary Ann went along as witnesses, so Alice is taking care of the Pizza Parlor until they get back. I'm glad they have a little time off, because they won't have a moment's peace once their baby comes.
I will admit though, I do sometimes still wonder what it would be like if Mike and I had a baby together. Yes, we're happy as we are, but there are times when I want to start all over again, especially with him. On the other hand, I have my hands full with our six kids.