Расшифровка записи
Mary: Hey, John! Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day! Do you remember?
John: Do I remember? I’ve spent loads of money on Valentine cards, to say nothing of postage costs!
Mary: That’s funny! I thought one was supposed to buy and send a card to just one person. Isn’t that the point?
John: It used to be, but I think not anymore. You are expected to send cards to teachers, relatives, neighbours ... This is ridiculous — but be ready for some caustic comments if you forget somebody from this list! People have completely forgotten the fact that there was a time when this holiday was close to being forbidden — I guess it was in 1969.
Mary: That’s sad, but you are probably right. For example, have you heard that, according to the statistics, teachers receive the most Valentines, followed by kids, mothers and only then spouses or sweethearts?
John: This doesn’t surprise me at all. Valentine’s Day is probably the second largest card-sending holiday in the world.
Mary: Only the second? How come?
John: I think you are missing Christmas, aren’t you? You know Hallmark employs 80 people every year to research the sales pattern of previous Valentines. That is big business for them.
Mary: Much depends on clever advertising; that’s the fact. Do you know that in Japan after the successful campaign of a chocolate factory, women began to give men a box of sweets for Valentine’s Day?
John: Never! I don’t believe it! At least lucky men in Japan don’t have to buy bunches of roses.
Mary: A bouquet is important indeed. You don’t want to send mixed signals with it, do you?
John: What do you mean?
Mary: The colour of flowers, of course! Red can mean romantic love or just deep respect. Peach can tell a person of your gratitude or appreciation. Pink symbolizes perfection and black says farewell. Imagine you mix black and red or peach and pink.
John: This is completely over my head. I doubt many people still remember these archaic rules.
Mary: You never know! OK, I’ve got to go. See you tomorrow.
John: All right. I hope you’ll have a card for me!
Mary: I certainly will!