I should have realised there and then what that meant, but I wasn't concentrating as much as I should.
While we were talking Paula had shrouded me in a gown and I had held my arms out submissively while she put it on me. She tied it around my neck; suprisingly gently. She rested her hand on my shoulder and paused for a moment.
"Right, let's get started shall we?" she said in a cheery voice. She was obviously in her element now, in creative mode, in control.
"Are you going to give me a clue?" I asked feebly.
"It'll be shorter" she said with a smile.
"How much shorter?" I asked.
"I can see that you're going to be one of those awkward ones" she said with a wry smile.
""I think it's just my instinctive self-preservation kicking in" I replied.
