Paul H. Williams, Contributor

As soon as the Justice of the Peace assumed his seat at the big mahogany desk, the police constable boomed, "Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! All manner of persons who have anything to do or say in her majesty's court of the petty session" … And with that, the court started.

The first case was a continuation of one that had started two weeks before. It was between two feuding, ageing sisters, Eugenie and Ninibeth. The object of the contention was an old rocking chair which had been in their family for years. It was originally owned by Canute Jones, who passed it down to his wife, who passed it on to her eldest daughter, Daphne, the mother of the sisters.

The chair, made of imported hardwood from Guyana, though small, was exquisitely designed. Ornate decoration and its deep brown finish gave it an aristocratic look. There were a few scratches and chips, but those did not take much away from it. It was remarkably shiny, despite its age. The previous owner obviously had it as a showpiece, than as a utility.

Eugenie was very close to her mom, but when she got married she moved to a different parish. Ninibeth did not get married and she did not leave home. So, when their mom became ill in her later years, she was there to take care of her. Eugenie would go by to do her part, but it was Ninibeth who bore the burden of the responsibility.

One morning when she went to change the bed linen, she found her mother dead, in bed. She summoned Eugenie.

The very evening after the funeral, they sat on their mother's bed discussing the day's events. Suddenly, Eugenie turned to Ninibeth and asked, "So when can I come for that?" pointing to the rocking chair in a corner of the room. Puzzled, Ninibeth responded, "What?"

"The rocking chair. Mama promised me it years ago, since I am the eldest."

"No, no, no, that chair belongs to the family first and then me second, it not leaving this house."

Eugenie shot up from the bed and shouted, "How yuh mean it not leaving this house? Mama gave it to me, but I didn't want to take it before she dead, and now yuh telling me I can't get it? Yuh crazy!"

That, therefore, was the genesis of the feud. Ninibeth was adamant that the chair would remain in the family house. So, Eugenie took her to court.

At the first hearing, the JP listened to their stories, but none could prove her case. He told Ninibeth to take the chair to court so that he could see what was causing so much grief between the two sisters who had enjoyed a good relationship over the years.

The chair was now in court, at the front. When the police brought it in, the JP marvelled at its exquisiteness. He asked whether the sisters would allow him to sit in it to get a feel. They agreed. He lumbered off the platform. Eugenie looked at his huge frame and had second thoughts. Ninibeth stood with some amount of trepidation herself.

Upon reaching the chair, the JP did a cursory inspection. He then positioned himself before it, and slowly squeezed his massive frame into the chair. The court watched nervously. The JP sat with a sigh, and the chair rocked, and rocked. He closed his eyes, and the chair rocked. The sisters stared at him and were beginning to get anxious for him to get up and proceed with the case. Then, without warning there was a loud creak, and then, pow!!

Everybody in the room looked unbelievably at the fat JP and the pieces of wood strewn on the floor. Ninibeth and Eugenie, themselves bewildered, stared at each other for a few seconds, then at the JP. Then, simultaneously, their very loud laughter resonated from the ancient walls of the courthouse as the justice lay on his back surrounded by their broken legacy.

- Paul H. Williams