How are You at Puzzles?

That’s what the man asked, as I looked at him across the table.  “What do you mean– what type of puzzle?  You know, I can’t do those 1000 piece Thomas Kin–”

“No no, not that type of puzzle!  I’m talking about the kind where you have to use your mind, follow clues, use deductive reasoning– those kind of puzzles.”

“Oh.  I tend to like that kind of puzzle.”

“Well, I’ll give you the first clue shortly, but first we have to set up a few ground rules.”

“Ground rules?”

“Well, you’re not the only one who will be competing for the prize.”

“Prize?”

“And we have to have fair rules or else we won’t get many people to play.”

“There’s a prize involved?”