Talk About Signs

Grand gestures and sentimental notes were romantic, but all she wanted was for Simon to show just a little of how he felt about her

- Jane Coggins

It was a cold, grey Friday morning.

Tanya sat back in the passenger seat of Simon’s car, yawning sleepily, and then she saw it.

‘Look!’ she cried, sitting forward. ‘Do you see it? The sign on the bridge?’

‘Happy 40th, Monica!’ Simon read as they drove under the wet sheet with the big, splodgy red painted letters. ‘Who’s Monica?’

‘I’ve no idea,’ smiled Tanya, ‘but I just love it when people do that. Everyone who passes that sign will smile and think of Monica, whoever she is. It’ll brighten their day.’

‘And what will Monica think when she sees the sign?’ asked Simon. ‘Realising the whole world will know it’s her birthday and that she’s reached the grand old age of 40?’

‘Oh, she’ll know that those people who don’t know it’s her birthday won’t link it to her, and those who know her well but had forgotten it was her birthday will be reminded to call or text her. And it will make everyone who doesn’t know her at all smile. It’s cheered me up.’

‘You’re just happy that it’s this Monica who’s 40 and not you!’ said Simon, smiling.

‘I’m not!’ Tanya laughed. ‘I think it’s lovely.’

‘Seems like a lot of effort to go to,’ said Simon.

Tanya turned to look back at it. ‘Oh, look, there’s some blue sky over there.’

‘Yes, the forecast says it’s getting warmer.’

‘Great,’ Tanya smiled. ‘That means we can do something really nice tomorrow. Maybe we could go to the beach for the first time this year?’

Simon shook his head. ‘We’re in for rain. Why don’t we go to the beach next weekend when the forecast is better?’