TWO
"What do you mean suspended?" Phoebe asked. "Suspended from what?"
"My law license," said Cole. "It's been suspended. Listen to this.
"Dear Mr. Turner. It has come to the attention of the Other World Bureau of Licensing and Weights and Measures that you have recently been the instigator of an unprovoked physical altercation against a mortal human. It has also come to our attention that this physical alteration was an inappropriate response to a verbal disagreement precipitated by what you perceived as the inappropriate actions or behavior of said mortal human. Please be advised that such behavior in the mortal realm is completely unacceptable when dealing with mortal humans while operating in your capacity to blend in with human society.
"Effective immediately please be advised that your license to practice law in both the mortal realm and the Other World realm has been suspended and all appropriate departments and agencies have been advised as such. In addition, a temporary notation has been made in your file indicating that you are unavailable and ineligible for employment as long as your licenses are suspended. In order to have your licenses reinstated and the notation removed from your file it is necessary that the incident in question be expunged from your file.
"To this end you are hereby ordered to attend anger management as prescribed by Other World Health and Safety Regulations. Regulations specify that any violent outburst deemed inappropriate with regard to mortal humans necessitates that the offending party attend said anger management course within two weeks of the offense or risk permanent revocation of all licenses and credentials. Other World Health and Safety Regulations also require the offending party to cooperate fully with the administrator of said anger management course to successfully complete the course.
"You are hereby ordered to attend said anger management course within the specified two week time limit to have your licenses reinstated. Failure to do so will result in the immediate and permanent revocation of your law licenses for both the mortal realm and the Other World realm. Upon successful completion of the said anger management course it will be necessary to present the certificate of completion to the main office of the Other World Health and Safety Regulations. Once the certificate is on file in the proper office your licenses will be reinstated and the temporary notations in your file will be removed. Sincerely, Chief Administrator, Other World Office of Health and Safety."
"What does that all mean?" Phoebe asked.
"It means," said Cole, "that since I threw Yates out of my office at legal aid, I'm guilty of unacceptable violence in the workplace. As a result my license to practice law has been suspended in both the mortal realm and the Other World realm which means I can't legally practice law either place. And the only way to get my licenses back is to attend an anger management course."
"Can they do that?" Paige asked. "Suspend your licenses in both places at the same time?"
"I'm afraid they can," said Cole. "As a demonic attorney, stipulates that I have to be licensed on both the mortal realm and the Other World realm. That way I can represent a client if the case should overlap in the two realms. And the Other World Bureau of Licensing and Weights and Measures controls the licensing for both."
"Can't you appeal it or something?" Paige asked. "I'll admit that your response may not have been all that appropriate but I don't think one outburst is enough to say you have problems with anger. We all loose our temper some times."
"I'm afraid there's nothing I can do," said Cole. "If I want to get my law licenses back I'll have to attend the class. It also says there's a notation in my file saying I can't get another kind of job until I take care of this. That means that no matter what I do no one will hire me as long as the notation is in my file."
"And there's no recourse for you?" Piper asked.
"No," said Cole. "I'm afraid I don't have any other choice. All I can do is go to the class and get the certificate and this will all be over."
"Well, I'll go with you," said Phoebe. "If I can't get you out of it at least I can go and give you moral support."
"I'm afraid that's not allowed," said Cole. "Only those participating in the class are allowed to attend. Besides, it's a class for demons who live on the mortal realm. Everyone will be a demon that's had similar anger issues. On top of which it's held at three o'clock in the morning. To keep any humans from inadvertently stumbling into the class."
"Wait a minute," said Phoebe. "Your demonic half is gone. How come you have to attend this class if it's only for demons? Shouldn't you be exempt or something?"
"Genetically, I'm still have demon," said Cole, "even if I don't have my powers any more. It's like being born half Jewish or half black. Nothing can change that physically I'm half demon. So technically, under bureaucracy demon rules, I'm still under the authority of Other World law. Which means I still have to attend the class."
"How long is the class?" Leo asked.
"That depends," said Cole. "The longer it takes the participants to agree they have a problem and make a concerted effort to try and change, the longer the course will last. Don't worry. I'll go to the class, listen to the instructor make his shpeal about how that kind of behavior is inappropriate, agree that I was out of line, and do my best to change. Then he'll sign the certificate and it will all be over."
"Somehow I don't think it's going to that easy," said Leo.
"Oh, it will be a bit more complicated than that," said Cole. "But I can be very persuasive. I'll probably have to be there a few hours but it will more than likely be just the one night. I'll schedule the class right away. The sooner I get it over with the sooner I can get my license back."
"Well, if you need any help, let us know," said Phoebe. "We'll do whatever we can to make it as easy as possible."
"I will," said Cole. "But you'll see. It will be a piece of cake."