Joe and Kevin (part 2) - The Judgement of Solomon

Possession being nine-tenths of the law was a concept that suited Joe Bloggs down to the ground. He had all of Kevins Finklebrick's assets at his disposal and his host, whose body Joe's soul inhabited, was in no position to object as at the moment he was millions of miles away ranting and raving at an operative of the # Extraterrestrial Despatch's Lost Souls department.

This pedantic functionary would not entertain any claim without a proper ticket and Kevin was at his wits' end trying to make him understand that as he wasn't supposed to be dead he hadn't been given one.

“Tell you what I'll do, squire; I shall fill in a complaint form to report a mishandling and you'll hear in due course.”

Kevin sighed; bureaucracy was not just the earth's prerogative, it had even spread to the celestial universe.

#

At the Fox and Hounds, Mavis was hoping that Joe had meant what he said when he had promised that he would be back but two days had elapsed without him making an appearance.

Things had progressed since that visit and the life of our reborn was about to take a new turn.

Possibly due to Kevin's protestations, the wheels were in motion once again. The powers that be had assessed the situation and decreed that Joe's soul had to be repossessed and Kevin's returned to his body so that the status quo could be restored.

A judge would be appointed to grant an “order for possession”.

Joe, who was duly notified. was none too pleased. He had become accustomed to a life of luxury and reluctant to give it up. 
Moreover, he believed he was far too young to die.

#

The case for Joe's' soul restitution' hit a snag. Having refused to comply with the request, his attitude was defined as hostile.

Solomon, a highly qualified judge of long-standing, was to give a ruling.

“Where there are conflicting claims, the only solution is to reach a compromise”, he declared.

He was well known for this stance.

“A precedent was set in the case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde where a single individual alternated between two personalities“, he continued, and, paradoxically, although at face value it seems a different kettle of fish, there is a parallel”, he asserted.

“Here we have only one legally living person”, he clarified, “Mr. Kevin Finklebrick who accidentally acquired the spirit of an officially dead man; so ipso facto one body with two souls/(personalities).”

“It is my opinion that the only equitable and practical solution is for the living body to continue to be ruled by a split personality; the cuckolded husband sexually frustrated but on the verge of a breakthrough with the barmaid and the lover enjoying the amorous attentions of the widow of his alter ego.”

© Luigi Pagano 2022

Previous episodes:

https://www.abctales.com/story/luigipagano/upon-my-soul

https://www.abctales.com/story/luigipagano/joe-and-kevin-part-1-spoilt-c...