---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How many minutes is shortly?” I asked…"
description: "\"“How many minutes is shortly?” I asked. “Is it one minute or eight minutes or eleven minutes? On account of if it's one minute, I can wait, probably. B..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/barbara-park-14714_eleven-minutes_how-many-minutes-is-shortly-i-asked-is-i_356046.png"
---

#  How many minutes is shortly?” I asked. “Is it one minute…

![“How many minutes is shortly?” I asked. “Is it one minute or eight minutes or eleven minutes? On account of if it's one minute, I can wait, probably. But eleven minutes would be out of the question.” Mr. Scary walked back to my desk. And he sat me in my chair. I glanced up at him. “All I'm looking…” quote by Barbara Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/barbara-park-14714_eleven-minutes_how-many-minutes-is-shortly-i-asked-is-i_356046.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/barbara-park-14714_eleven-minutes_how-many-minutes-is-shortly-i-asked-is-i_356046.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/barbara-park-14714_eleven-minutes_how-many-minutes-is-shortly-i-asked-is-i_356046.png)

> ““How many minutes is shortly?” I asked. “Is it one minute or eight minutes or eleven minutes? On account of if it's one minute, I can wait, probably. But eleven minutes would be out of the question.” Mr. Scary walked back to my desk. And he sat me in my chair. I glanced up at him. “All I'm looking for is a rough estimate,” I said.””

[Barbara Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-park/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker seeks a vague time estimate, highlighting how uncertainty can be frustrating when precise timing matters.

**In simple terms:** Need a rough time estimate.

Key Takeaway

Clarify expectations early.

Themes

communication time management uncertainty

Mood

concerned curious

Type

practical inquisitive

When to use this quote

- project planning
- customer service
- personal scheduling
- deadline setting

Key Concepts

estimation expectations decision making

Questions to Reflect On

- How precise must a time estimate be?
- What are the risks of vague timing?

A Different Perspective

If the estimate is too vague, it may cause misaligned expectations.

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[Eleven minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eleven-minutes/)

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