Jenna's Lament

By Douglas Greene

Jenna was sorry for a lot of things.

She was sorry that her vanity drove her to the Ryerson Youth Clinic for an elective 'treatment'.

She was sorry that she was so rude to the nurses and the doctors before the procedure.

She was sorry that she complained so loudly that hospital gown she was ordered to wear didn't cover her up from behind.

She was sorry that she'd given power of attorney to her daughter so she could take care of business during her recovery.

Most of all, as she studied her new reflection, she was sorry that she didn't take the time to read all of the fine print in the contract she'd signed just a few hours earlier.

Her daughter stood behind her, disposable diaper in hand, grinning broadly. "If you aren't the sorriest little thing I've ever seen," she whispered, scooping her up and carrying her to a changing table on the other side of the recovery room.

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