Ann unfastened Gil's pants, and let gravity pull them down. Gil heard his belt clank metallically against the floor between his dangling feet. Bent over the island in the kitchen, his hands secured, he could only shiver as his boxers were dragged to his ankles an inch at a time.

Squeezing his bare cheek, Ann bent over and whispered in Gil's ear, "You be a good boy now, and don't move." Like he could.

"Aye aye, Skipper," he said, earning a smack on the rump. "I mean, yes Ma'am." What implement could she be getting? Weren't there enough things in the kitchen to spank him with?

With alarm, Gil saw her pick up her coat and purse, and move toward the front door. "Ann! Where are you going?"

"Out," she said, extinguishing the lights. "You behave for Aunt Suzy."

Aunt Suzy?! "Ann!" he yelled, pulling against the straps. He knew it was no use. He'd secured her there often enough. Tonight, one of the rare occasions she wanted to switch, he'd agreed eagerly. Now...

His heart pounded against the island as the door opened and he saw a silhouette. Was that Ann in a long wig? She drew a crop from a leather sheath and tested it in the air. They had never played with a crop before. Without a word, without a warm up, she lashed the crop full force across his naked posterior, forcing a shriek. His first whipping proceeded methodically and hard, until at last he moaned "Ann! What are you doing?"

"It's Aunt Suzy," she barked. That was not Ann's voice!

Gil blinked away tears to ask weakly, "Who are you?"

"Someone who encourages men to think about how they are treating the women in their lives. A broken heart hurts a lot more than a whipped behind. I should know; I've had both." Gil just looked confused. "How long have you lived with Ann?" Suzy asked.

"Three years," he said cautiously.

"She's sacrificed a lot, and works every day at making you happy. Don't you think it's about time you showed the same commitment to her?"

"I never thought of it like that," Gil admitted.

"No, you haven't thought about it at all, and that's why you're in my schoolhouse now. You know what not to do: you're not a pig who runs around bedding other women, or I wouldn't waste my time with you. But commitment means taking positive actions, too."

Suzy walked to the counter and picked up a ginger root. "Do you know what figging is?" she asked calmly. Gil's eyes grew wide as he nodded. "So you know where I'm going to put this if I don't get some better answers from you."

To her astonishment, he laughed. It wasn't entirely his fault. He suddenly realized his name was Gilligan, he was on an island, and he was being asked which he preferred: marry Ann... or ginger.

Yes, Gil had a lot of growing up to do. It began that night.