--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When he was finished, he set his plate…" description: "\"“When he was finished, he set his plate down, looked at me, and raised an eyebrow. I leaned forward and whispered angrily, “I am not going to sit on yo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/657/colleen-houck-1066_clock-is-ticking_when-he-was-finished-he-set-his-plate-do_95103.jpg" --- # When he was finished, he set his plate down, looked at me… ![“When he was finished, he set his plate down, looked at me, and raised an eyebrow. I leaned forward and whispered angrily, “I am not going to sit on your lap, so don’t get your hopes up, Mister.” He still waited until I picked up a fork and took a few bites. I speared a bite of macadamia nut…” quote by Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/657/colleen-houck-1066_clock-is-ticking_when-he-was-finished-he-set-his-plate-do_95103.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/657/colleen-houck-1066_clock-is-ticking_when-he-was-finished-he-set-his-plate-do_95103.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/657/colleen-houck-1066_clock-is-ticking_when-he-was-finished-he-set-his-plate-do_95103.jpg) > ““When he was finished, he set his plate down, looked at me, and raised an eyebrow. I leaned forward and whispered angrily, “I am not going to sit on your lap, so don’t get your hopes up, Mister.” He still waited until I picked up a fork and took a few bites. I speared a bite of macadamia nut crusted ruby snapper and said, “Whew. Time’s up. Isn’t it? The clock is ticking. You must be sweating it, huh? I mean, you could turn any second.” He just took a bite of curried lamb and then some saffron rice and sat there chewing as cool as a cucumber. I watched him closely for a full two minutes and then folded up my napkin. “Okay, I give. Why are you acting so smug and confident? When are you going to tell me what’s going on?” He wiped his mouth carefully and took a sip of water. “What’s going on, my prema , is that the curse has been lifted.” My mouth dropped open. “What? If it was lifted, why were you a tiger for the last two days?” “Well, to be clear, the curse is not completely gone. I seem to have been granted a partial removal of the curse.” “Partial? Partial meaning what, exactly?” “Partial, meaning a certain number of hours per day. Six hours to be exact.” I recited the prophecy in my mind and remembered that there were four sides to the monolith, and four times six was…”Twenty-four.” He paused. “Twenty-four what?” “Well, six hours makes sense because there are four gifts to obtain for Durga and four sides of the monolith. We’ve only completed one of the tasks, so you only get six hours.” He smiled. “I guess I get to keep you around then, at least until the other tasks are finished.” I snorted. “Don’t hold your breath, Tarzan. I might not need to be present for the other tasks. Now that you’re a man part of the time, you and Kishan can resolve this problem yourselves, I’m sure.” He cocked his head and narrowed his eyes at me. “Don’t underestimate your level of…involvement, Kelsey. Even if you weren’t needed anymore to break the curse, do you think I’d simply let you go? Let you walk out of my life without a backward glance?” I nervously began toying with my food and decided to say nothing. That was exactly what I’d been planning to do. Something had changed. The hurt and confused Ren that made me feel guilty for rejecting him in Kishkindha was gone. He was now supremely confident, almost arrogant, and very sure of himself.”” [Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A dialogue laden with mythic curses and partial relief illustrates how characters negotiate power, time constraints, and evolving alliances within a fantastical framework. **In simple terms:** Mythic curse negotiation. Key Takeaway Partial solutions drive plot tension. Themes mythology power dynamics time limitation character interaction Mood mysterious playful Type narrative dialogue When to use this quote - fantasy storytelling - role‑playing games - creative writing Key Concepts curse mechanics strategic dialogue Practical Applications - building tension through limited abilities - exploring alliance shifts Questions to Reflect On - How does a “partial” curse affect character decisions? - What does the time‑bound element reveal about urgency? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) ## Related quotes > [“Well, I'm over it. Let's just forget about it.” He blinked at me, seeming surprised by my easy forgiveness. I gave him a small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/well-i-m-over-it-let-s-just-forget-about-it-he-blinked-at-me-seeming/) [Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/) > [“In a husky whisper he recited the prophecy to her. 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Mr.Kadam said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/perhaps-you-three-could-continue-this-conversation-when-the-ship-is/) [Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/) > [“I was immediately aware of her when she stood at the window but I didn't move at first. I wanted to look at her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/i-was-immediately-aware-of-her-when-she-stood-at-the-window-but-i/) [Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/) > [“The house was quiet. Silently, I walked down the stairs and passed the peacock room where I found Mr. Kadam sitting and waiting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/the-house-was-quiet-silently-i-walked-down-the-stairs-and-passed-the/) [Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/) > [I don’t mind being alone either. The only problem is that if you’re always alone, you get lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/i-don-t-mind-being-alone-either-the-only-problem-is-that-if-you-re/) [Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/) > [“Holy Hannah, that man is dangerous!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/holy-hannah-that-man-is-dangerous/) [Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/) > [“Long dormant feelings poured through my dried-up limbs and wound through me, slowly filling the emptiness. Like an irrigated field, I felt myself blossom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/long-dormant-feelings-poured-through-my-dried-up-limbs-and-wound/) [Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/) > [“I don't like sleeping in the dark jungle by myself. Ren”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/i-don-t-like-sleeping-in-the-dark-jungle-by-myself-ren/) [Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/) > [“Oregon almost never got too hot. An Oregon governor must have passed a law a long, long time ago that said Oregon had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/oregon-almost-never-got-too-hot-an-oregon-governor-must-have-passed-a/) [Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/) > [“One heartbeat passed and then another, and the moment felt hot and frozen at the same time. Then he smiled, and it was sunshine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/one-heartbeat-passed-and-then-another-and-the-moment-felt-hot-and/) [Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/) [Explore all 298 Colleen Houck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/) ## More Clock is ticking quotes > [“I was seething. I told him that “the clock is ticking” and that our patience with their lack of political progress was running out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/i-was-seething-i-told-him-that-the-clock-is-ticking-and-that-our/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [“Clock is ticking. The night turns into a morning. And here I am grieving. Memories re remaining”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annisa-ninggorkasih/clock-is-ticking-the-night-turns-into-a-morning-and-here-i-am/) Annisa Ninggorkasih > [You have to cherish things in a different way when you know the clock is ticking, you are under pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chadwick-boseman/you-have-to-cherish-things-in-a-different-way-when-you-know-the-clock/) [Chadwick Boseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chadwick-boseman/) > [When I go up, especially if I'm paying for a small helicopter and pilot, I'm on. 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I Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo/second-half-of-the-year-starts-now-july-1st-with-the-next-6-months/) [Pablo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo/) > [This is your life and the clock is ticking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/this-is-your-life-and-the-clock-is-ticking/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [Just run and hide out in the secret place where I feel safe. Everyone is out to get me. I'm running out of time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-run-and-hide-out-in-the-secret-place-where-i-feel-safe-everyone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Your life clock is ticking. But you know what? God made the clock. ~ Strength Renewed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-corder/your-life-clock-is-ticking-but-you-know-what-god-made-the-clock/) [Shirley Corder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-corder/) > [The realisation that all things that society gives us is an illusion is the only way to free yourself from the tribe. All these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/the-realisation-that-all-things-that-society-gives-us-is-an-illusion/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [Unfortunately, the clock is ticking, the hours are going by. The past increases, the future recedes. Possibilities decreasing, regrets mounting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/unfortunately-the-clock-is-ticking-the-hours-are-going-by-the-past/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [You don't have to be a mathematician to work out that Rory McIlroy is going to have more chances at 25 than I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-mathematician-to-work-out-that-rory-mcilroy-is/) [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) > [The clock is ticking down, it's the final round.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jls/the-clock-is-ticking-down-it-s-the-final-round/) [JLS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jls/) > [That window is closing. . . . Now, the clock is ticking. . . . We're not going to have these talks just drag…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-window-is-closing-now-the-clock-is-ticking-we-re-not-going-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“the clock is ticking”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe-author/the-clock-is-ticking/) Chinua Achebe (Author Browse all 46 Clock is ticking quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When he was finished, he set his plate down, looked at me, and raised an eyebrow. I leaned forward and whispered angrily, “I am not going to sit on your lap, so don’t get your hopes up, Mister.” He still waited until I picked up a fork and took a few bites. I speared a bite of macadamia nut crusted ruby snapper and said, “Whew. Time’s up. Isn’t it? The clock is ticking. You must be sweating it, huh? I mean, you could turn any second.” He just took a bite of curried lamb and then some saffron rice and sat there chewing as cool as a cucumber. I watched him closely for a full two minutes and then folded up my napkin. “Okay, I give. Why are you acting so smug and confident? When are you going to tell me what’s going on?” He wiped his mouth carefully and took a sip of water. “What’s going on, my prema , is that the curse has been lifted.” My mouth dropped open. “What? If it was lifted, why were you a tiger for the last two days?” “Well, to be clear, the curse is not completely gone. I seem to have been granted a partial removal of the curse.” “Partial? Partial meaning what, exactly?” “Partial, meaning a certain number of hours per day. Six hours to be exact.” I recited the prophecy in my mind and remembered that there were four sides to the monolith, and four times six was…”Twenty-four.” He paused. “Twenty-four what?” “Well, six hours makes sense because there are four gifts to obtain for Durga and four sides of the monolith. We’ve only completed one of the tasks, so you only get six hours.” He smiled. “I guess I get to keep you around then, at least until the other tasks are finished.” I snorted. “Don’t hold your breath, Tarzan. I might not need to be present for the other tasks. Now that you’re a man part of the time, you and Kishan can resolve this problem yourselves, I’m sure.” He cocked his head and narrowed his eyes at me. “Don’t underestimate your level of…involvement, Kelsey. Even if you weren’t needed anymore to break the curse, do you think I’d simply let you go? Let you walk out of my life without a backward glance?” I nervously began toying with my food and decided to say nothing. That was exactly what I’d been planning to do. Something had changed. The hurt and confused Ren that made me feel guilty for rejecting him in Kishkindha was gone. He was now supremely confident, almost arrogant, and very sure of himself.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Colleen Houck" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/when-he-was-finished-he-set-his-plate-down-looked-at-me-and-raised-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clock is ticking" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/when-he-was-finished-he-set-his-plate-down-looked-at-me-and-raised-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/657/colleen-houck-1066_clock-is-ticking_when-he-was-finished-he-set-his-plate-do_95103.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/657/colleen-houck-1066_clock-is-ticking_when-he-was-finished-he-set-his-plate-do_95103.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/657/colleen-houck-1066_clock-is-ticking_when-he-was-finished-he-set-his-plate-do_95103.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When he was finished, he set his plate down, looked at me, and raised an eyebrow. 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