Her Universal Sign.

Elly sighed, as she was boiling the kettle for making her cup of healing tea. She was still focusing on being herself here in Goodly Town again, her comfort zone. Big Al and his true romance, Cosmic Mystic Elke, had both welcomed her into their fold again. The whole community and church enfolded her in one giant hug. Elly had her own apartment now, where she could rest on the balcony, meditating with her cuppa, planning how to develop her next original aim in advancing her millenial contribution to Biomedicine.

Elly's last invention was still a success story, and so was she. Big Al was always her father. His favourite saying to her was, "She'll be right, you'll be good as gold. " Elly knew she should not be getting too uptight, but Howie was visiting her soon for a summer vacation. Big Al had been slightly underimpressed, insisting that handsome Howie accommodate himself in a holiday inn, not in one of Elly's spare bedrooms, let alone hers.

But Elly's ever innovative brain was engaged in designing her next robot. It was an automated surgeon, coded to regenerate human skin after the worst effects of melanoma. Elly was very well informed about the current increases in rates of skin cancer in her Great Southern Land. Goodly Town by the sunny bay had the highest tally of all melanomas in the southern hemisphere. It was due to all the years of Aussies spending summers sunbaking around their surrounding beaches and swimming pools.

True, Elly looked very good in her bikini, but she had resolved in future to cover up on the beach at noon and into the sunlit afternoons. She had been advising her pals on the beach to do the same., because of their potential for skin damage from the rising UV levels.

Meanwhile, she had finished her comforting cup of holistic tea, and lingered for a moment, with a smile. Elly was still undecided about Howie and any good intentions. "Is he the real deal?' she asked herself. He was by now an academic with a good reputation at Big Smoke University where she had met him. He did seem very keen on continuing his contact with her.

Despite being very human themselves, Elly's birth parents, Big Al and Mahalia had filled her with doubts about any summer romance which might loom ahead, with any male. Her emotions were bemusing, as she had not really felt like this about any man before. She was still a very fetching female, easy on the eye.

"Is he after your brains or your blip? That might be that!" Mahalia had asked her, being more than cynical and jaundices about MEN! Elly had tried to laugh that off, but now she was really pondering.

As she resumed her latest junior intellectual pursuits, a thought chimed in her grey matter in her synapses, an idea. "Ask Mystic Elke!' She turned her eyes away from her technological wizardry, picking up her phone to call her stepmother. Elke was still a consulting holistic healer and counsellor in Goodly Town, as well as being wife to Big Al, a team leader and pastor of their local church.

Elke had coached Elly to maintain an open mind about the Almighty. She had advised Elly to always speak respectfully to others, and listen kindly. Sometimes it was only human not to be perfectly positive and pure for 100% of their days on their planet. Elly's brain was being distracted by visualizing some more sinful times, but that was what made the world keep going and reproducing. Was love as lovely as some romantic fantasizing women believe? "Ask a mystic!'

Cosmic Mystic Elke readily provided an urgent and free appointment for Elly., who only mentioned that she was in need of some mystical advice about her future. So, Elly was there at the appointed time, making sure that Big Al was otherwise fully occupied elsewhere, not being a perfect male either. Elke privately thought his attitude was Neanderthal, but hey, we can all do double standards.

Elly entered Elke's private consulting room, lit by flickering, scented candles, draped with purple, and dimly lit. Here the Goodly Town resident mystic had her own mini altar. Elly was advised to clear her mind of all distractions, before requesting her stepdaughter to ask her question. That was after they both reflected for five minutes, saying their Lord's prayer for sage advice.

Elly spoke, then let any mysticism hold sway. Elke did close her eyes, then uttered as her voice seemed to deepen. "Wait, dear heart. Do not let navel gazing get to you. When you doubt, the divine power of the universe and our almighty will send you a sign. True love will always resonate. It shall appear in a manner you may least expect. Fear not, dear one."

Elly shared a comforting hug with Elke, then returned home to her own place. She wanted to be true to herself, as well as her fluttering heart strings and pulse rates, when she greeted Howie the next day. He was definitely more than interested in Elly, both her brains and young attractions. The young ones shared lunch, and ventured onto the beach, discussing some practical aspects that might crop up. For instance, Elly had previously got over living in Big Smoke, and did not wish to be an academic's trophy bride, dwelling amid all those blue stockings.

But Howie wanted to engage in Elly's advancing of Biomedical Research, he was prepared to relocate, adding to each other's thinking. After a casual dinner at Big Al's, the potential couple wandered on the calming shores, as the summer moon shone fully, and all the stars of the firmament blazed above.

Howie and Elly kissed. He produced a sparkling diamond ring and proposed. Elly sat down on the sand, as Howie hugged her. Their eyes were suddenly drawn to the night sky. A comet, a shooting star appeared right across their vision of heaven. Yes, the almighty power had sent Elly her universal sign.

Surprisingly, the engagement ring fitted perfectly. They returned to Big Al's, fully a more than charming betrothed couple. Mystic Elke welcomed them kindly, and offered everyone a drink, suggesting Big Al open some champagne. She only smiled when Big Al said, "I need hard liquor!"

Cosmic Elke replied, " Lovers have an excellent place, put a smile on that grumpy face!"

Goodly Town is still there, somewhere in a mystical magic land. It was beautiful. Big Al and Elke, as well as Elly and Howie, are still their own Valentines, their dear hearts ever caring. The universal signs can appear to anyone at any time.