Emma Jane’s been keeping her readers posted with some wonderful accounts of the scenes she and I played during my recent visit to Ireland. But I’m going to dive in and blog about the very first scene of the weekend – which, indeed, was the first role-playing scene we’d played together.

–

“You wanted to see me, sir?”

The young lady in the door of the Headmaster’s office looked nervous – as well she might have been. (And oh, how delightfully authentic my playmate looked in her grey dress and blue school shirt. For a moment, I was that Headmaster – not a mere role-player).

“Indeed.” I didn’t rise from my desk, but looked up from my paperwork, clsing the folder in front of me (actually the hotel’s brochure, masquerading as important papers for a forthcoming Governors’ meeting). I came straight to the point: “Where were you this afternoon, Miss Woodhouse?”

She’d been at the dentist’s, she told me. She’d had permission. (I’d known this, of course, the plot having been carefully agreed in advance).

“So why did one of my staff see you in the local shops?”

An excuse was quick to follow: “I popped into Top Shop, sir. But only for a moment.” (Trying to disarm me. A confession hadn’t been part of the plot. I thought quickly…). “Top Shop, eh? Then can you explain why you were seen in two other stores, at least half an hour apart?”

She couldn’t. And now I played my joker: a call to the dentist had revealed that she hadn’t ever had an appointment made for that afternoon.

I stood up, and walked across to the cupboard in which I’d stored the two school canes that were to be so well used over the weekend. I opened the door, took them out, and passed sentence: “I’m going to cane you, Miss Woodhouse. Six strokes for your truancy, and a further six for lying.”

And so she bent over the arm of the sofa that the hotel had so conveniently provided, her knickers lowered, and I took up the lighter of the canes for the first half-dozen. Hard – on a cold bottom; clearly hurting. And then I paused, and picked up the second, heavier cane: “Those were for truancy. I view lying as a far more serious offence. And you have lied both with your excuse that you had a dental appointment, and then continued lying to me with your explanations this afternoon. I shall use the senior cane for the remaining six.”

She protested (genuinely, I think!). But I was having none of it, and Headmaster-me was determined to make these really count. She held her position bravely, although the strokes were delivered at full strength, and then it was all over.

“Stand up and adjust your clothing, and don’t let me see you back here again.” And so Emma Jane headed off – almost to the stairs leading out of the room, before turning with the biggest grin on her face and walking back over for a hug.