Four

That night, Ginger and Mary Ann fell into a deep sleep and they both started to dream...

The dream fades into a small village where a Princess named Ginger is strolling through, in a pink sparkly dress, with a cloak over it. She puts on her hood so none of the villagers will recognize her. She also held a basket with apples she had planned on passing around to the villagers.

Princess Ginger walked through the town of people gardening, doing laundry, and children running around. Most of the villagers clothes were old and worn out, and some looked like they hadn't bathed in days. Princess Ginger made her way to the children, handing them juicy apples, and they devoured them as soon as the apples reached their hands. Princess Ginger noticed a girl, about her age kneeling down on the dirt washing clothes with her bare hands. Her hair was tousled, she had some dirt on her face and she looked tired, and hungry. Princess Ginger walked closer to the girl so she could give her an apple. The girl didn't even look up. She continued scrubbing clothes in a bucket. Princess Ginger had to speak to get her attention.

"Hi," Princess Ginger said to the girl. The girl stopped scrubbing, and looked up to the Princess. Ginger offered her an apple from the basket. The girl grabbed it, but said, "You're not trying to poison me are you?" she joked. The Princess shook her head.

"Do I look like an old hag to you? she joked back. The girl laughed and took a huge bite of the apple, feeling satisfied.

"What's your name? Princess Ginger asked her.

"Mary Ann," she said, with her mouthful. "What's yours?"

"Uh, Ginger," she said, hoping Mary Ann wouldn't figure out she was the Princess.

"Hey!" Mary Ann gasped. "Aren't you the Princess?!"

Ginger waved her hands frantically. "Shhh!" she hushed. "I don't want anybody to notice me."

"Sorry," Mary Ann apologized. "Man I wonder what it would be like to live in a huge castle with servants and maids," Mary Ann dreamed. Stuff like that seemed impossible to a girl who lived in a small house, having to work hours everyday.

"Trust me it's not all that," Princess Ginger said. "You always have to be perfect, you always have to be graceful and polite," Ginger told her.

"Still, anything is better than this life," Mary Ann said opening her arms to the small village packed with people trying to get by with the little they had.

"Hey, I have an idea!" Ginger said. "You're about my age. With a small disguise and some make up, you could pass as me."

Mary Ann was puzzled. "What do you mean?" she asked the Princess.

"We're going to switch places!" Ginger said. Mary Ann's eyes widened in excitement. She could finally get to experience a different life. A life of a Princess.

"Could it really work?" Mary Ann wondered.

"It wouldn't hurt to try," Ginger said.

When everything was agreed upon, Princess Ginger and Mary Ann exchanged numbers so they could keep in touch and arrange a time to do the switch. At night Mary Ann could hardly sleep, knowing that she would get to experience what it was like to be a Princess. She wouldn't have to wake up at five A.M. every morning to start working. She could almost do whatever she wanted. She would have people to cook for, do her laundry and even make her bed.

Princess Ginger wasn't looking forward to working in the garden, but she was excited for a change. Something new, where she didn't have to constantly greet people, be poised and polite. If she didn't feel like washing her hair, no one would care.

At the castle the next day, Princess Ginger isolated herself in her big bedroom at the top floor, so she could call Mary Ann without anybody finding out. She was going to arrange the details for the swap. She told her to meet behind at the library between the castle and Mary Ann's village, at noon.

When they both showed up, they brought a couple of things that would help with the swap. Princess Ginger had a special red haired wig made for Mary Ann, and a list of things she needed to know if wanted to pass as the Princess. Mary Ann also had a wig and a list for Ginger.

"Here put on this dress," Princess Ginger said, handing her a purple sparkly dress. Mary Ann took it and gave her clothes that were far less prettier than Ginger's, to wear. The two wished each other good luck, and went on their way to start the switch.

Mary Ann was in aw when she saw the hug castle in front of her. It was beige, with many stories and there were two guards on each side of the big door. She had her disguise on, but she wore a cloak with a hood just in case. The Princess had put make up on Mary Ann so it could help even more, but Mary Ann wasn't use to it.

She was hesitant at first, but she made her way to the huge front door, where the two tall guards stood, motionless. When they saw "Ginger" come over, they tipped their hats, and opened the double for for the Princess. Mary Ann couldn't believe she had made it pass the guards as she stepped into the lobby of the castle. It was unlike anything she had ever seen in her life. The whole lobby was probably as big as her entire house. There were photographs everywhere on the walls, of what looked like kings, queens and other royalty figures and a long spiral stair case that led to who knows where. Mary Ann knew she was in for a long ride.

"Hello Ginger," she heard someone say. Mary Ann almost forgot to answer since it wasn't her real name. Mary Ann turned around, her dress spinning. Although she wasn't sure, she guessed the lady standing in front of her was Ginger's mother-the Queen.

"Hello mother," Mary Ann said in her best Princess voice. She was so nervous that the Queen was going to notice she wasn't her daughter.

"Honey, you remember Roy Hinkley?" the Queen said, as a handsome man stepped forward.

"Uh," Mary Ann said. She didn't know how to respond, because she never had seen the guy in her life. Ginger had forgotten to mention him.

"He's the son of my friend. We set you two up on a date a few weeks ago, remember?" Ginger's mother reminded her.

"Oh yeah!" Mary Ann pretended to remember. Roy Hinkley chuckled at her answer and he stepped closer to her. He asked her if she wanted to go on another date, and she had to say yes. Not just because she was posing as Ginger, but also because she thought this guys was very good looking.

...

So days went on, and Mary Ann and Ginger couldn't believe they were still passing as each other. At the village Ginger had met a friend of Mary Ann's, named Gilligan. Ginger and Mary Ann were wondering how long it could last. They obviously couldn't do it for months, someone was bound to figure it out. They decided to tell everyone the truth at the ball that was being held at the castle. Mary Ann invited Roy, Ginger and Gilligan. The Queen invited a bunch of other guests.

The ball took place at 7:00 P.M., just when it started to get dark. All the guests came around the same time, and the dancing was underway at 7:10. Ginger danced with Gilligan and Mary Ann danced with Roy. Both girls looked at each other and it was their queue to tell them who the really were.

"I have to tell you something," Ginger said to Gilligan as they danced. She started to pull off her hood, and her brown wig. Gilligan just smiled, which wasn't the reaction she was expecting. "I'm actually the Princess," she confessed. "Me and Mary Ann switched places, so we could have a feel of a different life."

"I know," he said simply, with a grin.

"You do?!" she exclaimed in surprise. He laughed.

"Yup! I already figure it out a while ago," Gilligan said.

"How come you never told me?!" Ginger asked.

"Cause, if I did tell you right away, you'd be back to your life as a Princess and I probably would never get to see you again."

Mary Ann had a similar situation when she revealed to Roy that she wasn't royalty. He wasn't surprised or angry. He had suspected right away that she wasn't the real Princess Ginger.

"Somehow I'm glad this happened," Roy told her.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because I met you," he said. "It's funny how some little switch up could open up something you'd never thought of..."

That's when Mary Ann woke up from the dream. She sat up in her bed, her mind racing. She kept replaying the last part of the dream. It was so vivid, it almost felt real. Suddenly memories of herself and the Professor flooded her brain. She thought of the times they had spent together on the island, and it made her smile. The Professor and Gilligan were both great men, but she felt different with Gilligan. She was beginning to realize that she only loved him as a friend. Her feelings for the Professor were hidden within Gilligan's, because she assumed Ginger liked the Professor first.

Mary Ann stopped thinking and looked over to Ginger's bed and saw her laying awake, also in deep thought. "Ginger?" Mary Ann called to the red head. Ginger looked to Mary Ann. "Yeah?" she answered.

"I had the craziest dream," Mary Ann told her. "You were a Princess and I was poor and we switched places-"

"Oh my gosh!" Ginger exclaimed, leaping out of bed. "I had the exact same dream."

Mary Ann gasped, amazed. Nothing was said between them because they couldn't believe that they had the same dream. The two knew what each other was thinking. Mary Ann didn't have to ask Ginger if she had felt the same way as she did. They gave each other a nod, knowing what they both had to do.

Meanwhile, the Professor and Gilligan had woken up early and sat on the sand watching the lagoon. For some reason, the letters had made Gilligan and the Professor spend more time together. It made them see each other on the same level.

"Do you think another boat will come?" Gilligan asked.

"No." The Professor sighed. He squinted, looking ahead at the lagoon, feeling the fresh air fill his lungs. He really wanted to get rescued, but the only thing he could think about was Mary Ann.

"Professor, what do you think of Ginger?" Gilligan asked, looking at him.

"She's nice, but not my type," the Professor said. Gilligan smiled, looking ahead across the lagoon.

"I think she's so amazing," he beamed. "I've seen all her movies and I happened to get stuck on an island with her. Can you believe it? he said. The Professor laughed.

"Yeah, we are lucky to be stranded with such lovely women," he said.

As if the girls heard, Ginger and Mary Ann came over to them right on queue. Ginger plopped down next to Gilligan and Mary Ann sat next to the Professor. The boys turned their heads from looking at the lagoon, and looked at the girl's beside them. No words were exchanged. Ginger and Mary Ann smiled at their boys. They didn't tell them how they felt, but their facial expressions told the Professor and Gilligan that things were going to be great. Gilligan, being Gilligan, was a bit confused about what was going on. The Professor looked to the boy and nodded, smiling, and he understood.

The Professor put an arm around Mary Ann and Gilligan copied with Ginger. The four sat together, quietly admiring the view and the company. They weren't sure what would happen next or what the future would hold for them. Whether it be about getting rescued or love. But there was on they were sure of: they were glad the letters got swapped.

The End

A/N:

Well that's the end! Thank you to everyone who read this short little story. I've got another idea in mind... stay tuned.