[orangepeel]

A lawyer is rushing back to the office from his lunch break and runs out onto the road without looking…

On the other side of the world…

The Pope is lying on his death bed, surrounded by his cardinals chanting latin prayers…

The lawyer and the Pope find themselves standing side by side before The Great Pearly Gates and are welcomed into Heaven by St Peter. Since they both arrived at the same time they’re both led through the induction course together and explained how everything works in The Afterlife. At the end they’re both given their wings – the Pope gets a large pair of pure white wings just like everyone else in heaven but the lawyer’s are twice as big and lined with gold and silver. Next they’re shown where they will live in heaven – the Pope gets a luxurious hotel room with a view of a sparkling emerald sea, just like everyone else in heaven but the lawyer gets a huge mansion with private lake, golf course, harbour and a small army of servants to see to his every need.

Feeling a little uncomfortable the lawyer takes St Peter aside and explains that there must surely have been a mix-up between him and the Pope – he is after all just a simple lawyer and the Pope is God’s personal representative on Earth. The lawyer says he understands that mistakes happen – even in Heaven – and that he doesn’t mind them switching them over. St Peter chuckles to him and replies:

“Well you see – we’ve got hundreds of Popes here in heaven… but you’re the first lawyer we’ve ever had!!!”