--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mr. Crossley suddenly wondered why he was…" description: "\"Mr. Crossley suddenly wondered why he was why he was worrying about the note. It was only a joke, after all. He cleared his throat. Everyone looked up ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/diana-wynne-jones-1486_bed_mr-crossley-suddenly-wondered-why-he-was_3183074.jpg" --- # Mr. Crossley suddenly wondered why he was why he was… ![“Mr. Crossley suddenly wondered why he was why he was worrying about the note. It was only a joke, after all. He cleared his throat. Everyone looked up hopefully. 'Somebody,' said Mr. Crossley, 'seems to have sent me a Halloween message.' And he read out the note: 'SOMEONE IN THIS CLASS IS A…” quote by Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/diana-wynne-jones-1486_bed_mr-crossley-suddenly-wondered-why-he-was_3183074.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/diana-wynne-jones-1486_bed_mr-crossley-suddenly-wondered-why-he-was_3183074.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/diana-wynne-jones-1486_bed_mr-crossley-suddenly-wondered-why-he-was_3183074.jpg) > “Mr. Crossley suddenly wondered why he was why he was worrying about the note. It was only a joke, after all. He cleared his throat. Everyone looked up hopefully. 'Somebody,' said Mr. Crossley, 'seems to have sent me a Halloween message.' And he read out the note: 'SOMEONE IN THIS CLASS IS A WITCH.' 6B thought this was splendid news. Hands shot up all over the room like a bed of beansprouts. 'It's me, Mr. Crossley!' 'Mr. Crossley, I'm the witch!' 'Can I be the witch, Mr. Crossley?' 'Me, Mr. Crossley, me, me, me!” [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A teacher playfully pretends a class joke is a real warning, prompting eager responses from students. **In simple terms:** A joke becomes a mock warning, sparking excitement. Key Takeaway Embrace humor to engage others. Themes humor authority classroom dynamics Mood lighthearted engaging Type anecdotal motivational When to use this quote - teacher introducing a fun activity - students reacting - classroom morale boost Key Concepts playfulness social interaction expectation Questions to Reflect On - How can humor be used responsibly in authority roles? - What are the risks of misinterpretation? A Different Perspective If the joke is misunderstood, it could cause confusion or fear. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bed/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Halloween](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/halloween/) [Halloween Message](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/halloween-message-5840225/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Hopefully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopefully/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Messages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messages/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [Note Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/note-joke-5840224/) [Notes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notes/) [Rooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooms/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Sent Halloween](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sent-halloween-5840227/) [Shots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shots/) [Splendid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/splendid/) [Throat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throat/) [Witch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witch/) [Witch Mr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witch-mr-5840226/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [Worrying Note](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worrying-note-5840228/) ## Related quotes > [Give me, indulgent gods with mind serene, And guiltless heart, to range the sylvan scene, No splendid poverty, no smiling care, No well-bred hate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/give-me-indulgent-gods-with-mind-serene-and-guiltless-heart-to-range/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Heredity is a splendid phenomenon that relieves us of responsibility for our shortcomings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/heredity-is-a-splendid-phenomenon-that-relieves-us-of-responsibility/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/until-one-is-committed-there-is-hesitancy-the-chance-to-draw-back/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is not the way these tales end," Calliope said firmly. "This is not the way that things end when they get to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/this-is-not-the-way-these-tales-end-calliope-said-firmly-this-is-not/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [His mane was like a crest, mounting, then falling low. His neck was long and slender, and arched to the small, savagely beautiful head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-farley/his-mane-was-like-a-crest-mounting-then-falling-low-his-neck-was-long/) [Walter Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-farley/) > [In spite of my great admiration for individual splendid talents I do not accept the star system. Collective creative effort is the root of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constantin-stanislavski/in-spite-of-my-great-admiration-for-individual-splendid-talents-i-do/) [Constantin Stanislavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constantin-stanislavski/) > [Heroism, self-denial, and magnanimity, in all instances where they do not spring from a principle of religion, are but splendid altars on which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/heroism-self-denial-and-magnanimity-in-all-instances-where-they-do/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Do not be afraid of your difficulties.Do not wish you could be in other circumstances than you are. For when you have made the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-afraid-of-your-difficulties-do-not-wish-you-could-be-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What a splendid time Woo must have had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carr/what-a-splendid-time-woo-must-have-had/) [Emily Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carr/) > [Man is a noble animal, splendid in ashes, and pompous in the grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/man-is-a-noble-animal-splendid-in-ashes-and-pompous-in-the-grave/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [Science and art may invent splendid modes of illuminating the apartments of the opulent; but these are all poor and worthless compared with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/science-and-art-may-invent-splendid-modes-of-illuminating-the/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [Now when the primrose makes a splendid show, And lilies face the March-winds in full blow, And humbler growths as moved with one desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/now-when-the-primrose-makes-a-splendid-show-and-lilies-face-the-march/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [“It is splendid—to be—loved! If we only—can—live up—to the thoughts—of us—by them—that love us!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/it-is-splendid-to-be-loved-if-we-only-can-live-up-to-the-thoughts-of/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) > [We are a spectacular, splendid manifestation of life. We have language. . . . We have affection. We have genes for usefulness, and usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-a-spectacular-splendid-manifestation-of-life-we-have-language/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [Splendid couple - slept with both of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-bowra/splendid-couple-slept-with-both-of-them/) [Maurice Bowra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-bowra/) ## More by Diana Wynne Jones > [“Sophie and Howl were living - somewhat quarrelsomely it must be confessed, although they were said to be happiest that way - in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/sophie-and-howl-were-living-somewhat-quarrelsomely-it-must-be/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“What did you do?" said Charles. "You know that night all our shoes went into the hall," said Nirupam. "Well, we had a feast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/what-did-you-do-said-charles-you-know-that-night-all-our-shoes-went/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [Take it from me, Fate doesn't care most of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/take-it-from-me-fate-doesn-t-care-most-of-the-time/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“For a moment it seemed as if he was going to lose his temper too. His strange, pale eyes all but glared at Sophie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/for-a-moment-it-seemed-as-if-he-was-going-to-lose-his-temper-too-his/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [The truth between two people always cuts two ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/the-truth-between-two-people-always-cuts-two-ways/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“The soldier was like that. He was an expert in getting other people to do what he wanted. The only creature that could make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/the-soldier-was-like-that-he-was-an-expert-in-getting-other-people-to/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [Beauty isn't made of sugar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/beauty-isn-t-made-of-sugar/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Not likely!” Howl yelled. “I’m a coward. Only way I can do something this frightening is to tell my self I’m not doing it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/not-likely-howl-yelled-i-m-a-coward-only-way-i-can-do-something-this/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Typical!” he said to Sophie. “ I break my neck to get here, and I find you peacefully tidying up!” Sophie looked up at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/typical-he-said-to-sophie-i-break-my-neck-to-get-here-and-i-find-you/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Howl said, "I think we ought to live happily ever after," and she thought he meant it. Sophie knew that living happily ever after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/howl-said-i-think-we-ought-to-live-happily-ever-after-and-she-thought/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [Busy old fool, unruly Sophie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/busy-old-fool-unruly-sophie/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [But whoever heard of enchanted bacon anyway?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/but-whoever-heard-of-enchanted-bacon-anyway/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Then the geese replaced themselves with six pigs and vanished.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/then-the-geese-replaced-themselves-with-six-pigs-and-vanished/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [If I give you a hint and tell you it's a hint, it will be information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/if-i-give-you-a-hint-and-tell-you-it-s-a-hint-it-will-be-information/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [I only want to catch you,” Michael explained. “I won’t hurt you.” “No! No!” the star crackled desperately. “That’s wrong! I’m supposed to die!”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/i-only-want-to-catch-you-michael-explained-i-won-t-hurt-you-no-no-the/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) [Explore all 232 Diana Wynne Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) ## More Bed quotes > [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [Your idea of fidelity is not having more than one man in bed at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-raphael/your-idea-of-fidelity-is-not-having-more-than-one-man-in-bed-at-the/) [Frederic Raphael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-raphael/) > [The beginning of love is all about the butterflies, but the end of it is when you can't get out of bed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-beginning-of-love-is-all-about-the-butterflies-but-the-end-of-it/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wish I had as much in bed as I get in the newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-wish-i-had-as-much-in-bed-as-i-get-in-the-newspapers/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [ Leave a cavity behind the \[wall\] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-and-on-the-inside-build-walls/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/why-couldn-t-jesus-command-us-to-obsess-over-everything-to-try-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/to-all-the-secret-writers-late-night-painters-would-be-singers-lapsed/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“In the parking lot, she drove and parked in a dark area with no other cars around. She reclined her seat, and listened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/in-the-parking-lot-she-drove-and-parked-in-a-dark-area-with-no-other/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [It wasn't really touching to be young; it was touching not to be young, because you had less of life left. Touching to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/it-wasn-t-really-touching-to-be-young-it-was-touching-not-to-be-young/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) > [I have to meditate before I go to bed, always. I have to let the day go and let the eternal in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bellamy-young/i-have-to-meditate-before-i-go-to-bed-always-i-have-to-let-the-day-go/) [Bellamy Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bellamy-young/) > [Sometimes by a woodland stream he watched the water rush over the pebbled bed, its tiny modulations of bounce and flow. A woman's body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/sometimes-by-a-woodland-stream-he-watched-the-water-rush-over-the/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I think life is full of challenges and problems. I don't believe that anyone is perfect. We all make mistakes. It's not a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-mansell/i-think-life-is-full-of-challenges-and-problems-i-don-t-believe-that/) [Nigel Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-mansell/) > [When I saw him I thought I could curl up inside him and go to sleep and never wake up." "Men are no good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/when-i-saw-him-i-thought-i-could-curl-up-inside-him-and-go-to-sleep/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [I always wanted to be a movie star. I thought it meant being famous and having breakfast in bed. I didn't know you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-allyson/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-movie-star-i-thought-it-meant-being-famous/) [June Allyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-allyson/) [Browse all 4,159 Bed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mr. Crossley suddenly wondered why he was why he was worrying about the note. It was only a joke, after all. He cleared his throat. Everyone looked up hopefully. 'Somebody,' said Mr. Crossley, 'seems to have sent me a Halloween message.' And he read out the note: 'SOMEONE IN THIS CLASS IS A WITCH.' 6B thought this was splendid news. Hands shot up all over the room like a bed of beansprouts. 'It's me, Mr. Crossley!' 'Mr. Crossley, I'm the witch!' 'Can I be the witch, Mr. Crossley?' 'Me, Mr. Crossley, me, me, me!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Diana Wynne Jones" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/mr-crossley-suddenly-wondered-why-he-was-why-he-was-worrying-about/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/mr-crossley-suddenly-wondered-why-he-was-why-he-was-worrying-about/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/diana-wynne-jones-1486_bed_mr-crossley-suddenly-wondered-why-he-was_3183074.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/diana-wynne-jones-1486_bed_mr-crossley-suddenly-wondered-why-he-was_3183074.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/diana-wynne-jones-1486_bed_mr-crossley-suddenly-wondered-why-he-was_3183074.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Mr. Crossley suddenly wondered why he was why he was worrying about the note. It was only a joke, after all…” — Diana Wynne Jones", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Diana Wynne Jones", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Mr. Crossley suddenly wondered why he...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/mr-crossley-suddenly-wondered-why-he-was-why-he-was-worrying-about/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/mr-crossley-suddenly-wondered-why-he-was-why-he-was-worrying-about/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```