First mate's log:
June 14, 1973
Greg told me that Marcia also wanted to move into the attic, but their parents let him have it because he's older. She was very upset and he ended up feeling guilty about it. So he told her that he can wait a year to move out and she can have the attic now.
It turns out that Peter and Bobby really wanted Greg out of their room. (Jan and Cindy were going to miss Marcia.) Without telling Greg ahead of time, his brothers set up a scheme where they pretended that Marcia kept missing phone calls because she had to come all the way downstairs to the living room. Then one of her friends actually called and she smelled a rat.
But she thought Greg was the ringleader. He didn't know what she was talking about, but he suspected Peter and Bobby when they tried to slink out of the room. They confessed and Marcia forgave them. She even gave up the attic, for at least a year. So now everyone's happy.
I'm glad that the last Brady problem I dealt with as a bachelor was resolved sort of quickly, but I can't really take much credit, other than listening to Greg. I didn't even really offer any advice, since I didn't have any.
Carol Brady's diary:
June 15, 1973
To my relief, Mike was right. When we got home from the bazaar, all the children were sleeping peacefully in their beds, including Greg up in the attic. And Marcia seems to have accepted that she'll be sharing a room with her sisters for at least another year.
This was the last day of school. It's been quite a year. Well, they all are, but this one in particular was a year full of growing pains, for all the kids. And maybe me, too.
And tomorrow is Gilligan and Mary Ann's wedding day. They weren't children when I met them, but they weren't much more than teenagers. I feel like they, especially Gilligan, have grown up a lot in that time. I'd be happy for them in any case.
I am nervous about singing at the reception, especially my solos, but the kids and I have practiced as much as we can. Well, not so much this week, since we were distracted by the attic. But Mike is sure it'll be fine, and he was right about Greg and Marcia, so I hope he's right again.
June 16, 1973
This is my last diary entry as a bachelor, maybe my last ever. I don't know if married people can keep diaries, especially men. I mean, Mary Ann knew about my diary years ago, all of the castaways did, but that was different somehow. And maybe she'll have expected me to have outgrown it now.
I plan to lock this diary, and all my other diaries of the past nine years, in a trunk that I'll leave at the Skipper's. I won't make a decision about them for awhile. Maybe I'll want to look at them when I'm an old man, or maybe I'll want to share things from them with my kids or grandkids. Or, heck, maybe I'll want to write my memoirs someday.
I also feel like, well, maybe married people shouldn't have any secrets from each other. A lot of times I had things I couldn't tell the Skipper, especially about him, even though we're best friends and roommates. But is it different with a married couple? Shouldn't I confide in Mary Ann about everything, including when I disagree with her?
And then there's the thing of "Never put it in writing." What if Mary Ann found my diaries, especially the old ones, and found out my old thoughts and feelings? Not just about her, but about everyone. What if she hated me after she read that? I couldn't afford to lose her, especially as a wife.
I think what I'll do is get comfortable enough as a husband that I can bring the subject up and see what she thinks of diaries generally. Then if it feels right, I'll tell her about mine. Maybe she won't even want to read it. And who knows, maybe she keeps a diary, too.
Anyway, the wedding's in a couple hours and I need to get ready. As much as I can get ready for a huge step like this. At least I'm not scared of it, like I was when Mary Ann was eager to play bride in the practice wedding for the Skipper re-marrying the Howells. But I was young and stupid and scared back then. Now I'm older, hopefully a little wiser, and definitely a little braver.
Whatever happens, marrying Mary Ann will be the biggest change in my life since the shipwreck, only probably a whole lot nicer.
June 17, 1973
The Gilligan-Summers wedding was yesterday. (I always forget that "Gilligan" is actually his last name, but no one, not even Mary Ann, calls him "Willy.") Yes, I cried, but I wasn't the only one. It's both the end of an era and the start of a young couple's life together. And of course I remembered both my weddings. I hope that they both have long, happy lives, unlike poor Tim.
Mary Ann made a lovely bride of course. Gilligan looked surprisingly dapper in his suit. Her aunt and uncle looked like they were farm-people in their Sunday best, but there's nothing wrong with that. Gilligan's family couldn't make it but he and Mary Ann might go visit them this summer. At least all his friends, and Mary Ann's, from the two islands came or sent best wishes and gifts.
The wedding was remarkably disaster-free, unlike my wedding to Mike. i hope that's a good omen, although obviously my marriage to Mike got much better after the first few hours.
The reception also went mostly smoothly. The Skipper was a little nervous and choked up during his best man's speech, but that just made it sweeter when he spoke of his "little buddy" going on the next "voyage" in life. Yes, I started crying again.
I had to get some water before I could go onstage with my children, but I think I sang fine. The kids did, too, and even when Peter's voice broke, we all just kept going. The "audience" was of course very patient with us. And Mike looked so proud.
I sang "O Promise Me" as a solo, with Greg playing acoustic guitar. The kids sang some modern pop songs, from "Girl" by Davy Jones to "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack.
Alice clapped and whistled louder than anyone. And she half-joked that she hopes that we'll sing at her wedding to Sam, if and when that happens. Mike whispered to me that it'll probably be when Bobby's voice is changing. I elbowed and shushed him. But I do hope she marries Sam someday.