The Readiness Of Shanna BY JENN WEBSTER

(Cartoon & Canva Art By Jenn Webster)

The plans were now set in place for the coming wedding of Terri, the leader of the group consisting of her and her sisters, Shanna, Kaline, and Aquella, and Mani, whom the group recruited to join; earlier this morning, Terri was helping her sisters with their own bridesmaid wear, sea flower waist wear, and tiaras. Terri had already selected her sister, Shanna, to be her maid of honor, so it was with that Shanna created her own mermaid wear that was the perfect fit for her, who is to be the maid of honor: A pink sea flower waist band to wear, and a pink flower tiara to wear on her head. Terri then began talking with Shanna, telling her, “You know, I am so thrilled and nervous about this upcoming marriage to Mani…and you have certainly become a real help in preparing for my special day.” “My pleasure,” Shanna replied, “but while I am very happy for you to marry this guy, I am also sad that I am about to lose the most wonderful person of all…you!” Terri then said this to Shanna: “Well, that’s what I would very much like to talk to you about…You see, when Mani and I are married, I will be spending more time with him than with you and the rest of the sisters. And with that, I might not be able to rejoin you ladies in whatever adventures lie before you.” “What do you mean?” asked Shanna. Terri replied, “Well, if you do not mind, I would very much like for you to become the leader of the mer-group once I am married.” Shanna paused for a moment; somehow, she was a bit shocked by Terri’s announcement that she would be a replacement for Terri after she is wed and then focuses full-time on her and her new husband. Shanna swallowed and took a deep breath, and then she asked Terri, “You mean, you want me to take your place as the leader?” “Absolutely!” Terri replied, “but it won’t happen just yet…you and the ladies shall still have me as leader for a while longer, and then when the time comes when I am married, then I pass the leadership torch on to you.” Shanna then nodded at Terri and shook hands. Afterward, Shanna began to work on Terri’s bridal wear.

Later, Terri and her fiancé, Mani, got to work creating the guest list for the people they would be sending invitations to for their upcoming wedding; Mani made a list of his relatives and closest friends, while Terri made a list of just a few of her closest friends… Meanwhile, Shanna was back home in the sisters’ grotto, thinking about this sudden offer of having to take their lead sister’s place as the leader of the group of mer-sisters after Terri’s wedding; she began to think about this matter. Shanna thought to herself, Man, I really do not know if I could ever carry the weight of the job that I might soon be doing once Terri is married…I mean, I have been helping Terri for a few years, but now I might be forced to take on this leadership role on my own. I honestly do not know if I am ever ready for this kind of adventure… While Shanna was thinking, Kaline swam up to Shanna and asked her, “Say, what’s wrong?” Shanna replied, “Well, Kaline, earlier today, Terri told me that she will not be able to be our leader anymore once she says her ‘I Dos’, so she appointed me to be the new leader of our group of sisters! Well, I feel happy for Terri finally getting married, but I am also sad that she is going to leave us to spend more time with her new husband! And do you want to know something else? I honestly do not know if I am ever ready for this kind of change!”

Kaline then replied to Shanna, “Oh, Shanna, dear, I know that this is all so very sudden…but you have to understand that Terri has finally found someone that she loves so very much, and that she needs space for once in her life to have herself a chance trying to have a new life in marriage! So, it’s safe to say that she has finally found freedom in her love for Mani, and now she is taking a chance at a bright and happy future, both for her and her soon-to-be-new husband! The very best you can do is to let her have her life now!” Shanna then realized that, while she is afraid of taking her sister Terri’s place as the leader, she is now determined to take that chance of taking that job. So Shanna smiled and told Kaline, “Well, I believe there is a very first time for everything! I shall become the leader once Terri takes her vows!” “You got it!” Kaline replied, smiling at Shanna. A couple of days later, Shanna and the mer-sisters threw a bridal shower on the island beach for Terri, their soon-to-be-former lead sister; the other mermaids had arrived to give gifts for Terri, to wish her luck and a long and happy marriage. While at the party, Shanna began to have the thought that at last, she was now ready to take that job as leader of the mer-sisters. ©2026 Jenn Webster