--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mr. Jones had just started her on…" description: "\"“Mr. Jones had just started her on scraping the bottom when he came around the bow and stopped short. He shook his head in disbelief. “How did you mana..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c57/jackie-french-koller-28248_dark-eyes_mr-jones-had-just-started-her-on-scrapin_1665549.jpg" --- # Mr. Jones had just started her on scraping the bottom when… ![“Mr. Jones had just started her on scraping the bottom when he came around the bow and stopped short. He shook his head in disbelief. “How did you manage to get so filthy so fast?” he said. “Didn’t I tell you to wear a painter’s cap?” Denny shrugged and squinted at him through her safety goggles…” quote by Jackie French Koller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c57/jackie-french-koller-28248_dark-eyes_mr-jones-had-just-started-her-on-scrapin_1665549.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c57/jackie-french-koller-28248_dark-eyes_mr-jones-had-just-started-her-on-scrapin_1665549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c57/jackie-french-koller-28248_dark-eyes_mr-jones-had-just-started-her-on-scrapin_1665549.jpg) > ““Mr. Jones had just started her on scraping the bottom when he came around the bow and stopped short. He shook his head in disbelief. “How did you manage to get so filthy so fast?” he said. “Didn’t I tell you to wear a painter’s cap?” Denny shrugged and squinted at him through her safety goggles. “I thought the wind would blow the old paint and junk away as I scraped it off,” she said. Mr. Jones came over and took a closer look. “Look at your hair,” he said. “Your mother’s going to kill me. Try and shake some of that junk out of it.” Denny leaned over and shook her hair in the wind. She was almost sorry she’d let it grow. Long hair was such a pain sometimes. She heard the putter of an outboard motor and looked up to see Spence making his way across the bay. “Him again,” she grumbled, but she pulled the comb out of her back pocket and started furiously tugging at her hair. Mr. Jones grinned. “Thought you couldn’t stand him,” he said. “I can’t,” said Denny, whipping off her safety glasses. “Oh,” said Mr. Jones; then he gave her a maddening smile and went back to rebuilding the cradle. Denny glanced at Spence out of the corner of her eye as he approached. He stood at the wheel, wearing a knit sailor’s cap and an old navy peacoat. A shock of blond hair stuck out under the cap and was swept back by the wind. His dark eyes squinted into the sun, and the cut of his jaw was firm and square. Denny shook her head. “You’ve been away from civilization too long,” she told herself, “when somebody like him starts looking good.”” [Jackie French Koller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-french-koller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A worker’s frustration with messy work leads to a humorous exchange about hair and personal quirks. **In simple terms:** Even chores can spark witty banter. Key Takeaway Find humor in daily tasks. Themes humor workplace self‑image Mood lighthearted playful Type humorous conversational When to use this quote - construction sites - boat repairs - creative teams - personal grooming Key Concepts Everyday absurdity personal grooming Questions to Reflect On - What mundane task makes you laugh? - How do you handle irritation at work? A Different Perspective Humor may mask deeper dissatisfaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dark eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-eyes/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Knit Sailor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knit-sailor-803323/) [Long hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-hair/) [Looking good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-good/) [Sailor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sailor/) [Shook Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shook-hair-803324/) [Shook Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shook-head/) [Swept Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swept-wind-803322/) [Too long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-long/) ## Related quotes > [“Groaning, he gripped his fists in the wild stuff. “Contessa.God, Contessa.” She straightened, changing the angle, changing the pleasure. She shook her hair back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-ridgway/groaning-he-gripped-his-fists-in-the-wild-stuff-contessa-god-contessa/) [Christie Ridgway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-ridgway/) > [“I wish you’d told me this before.” “It wouldn’t have changed anything.” “Maybe not. But talking about wounds can help heal them.” “You don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/i-wish-you-d-told-me-this-before-it-wouldn-t-have-changed-anything/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [“He was attractive and he knew it, but he pretended he had no idea. Therefore he was both vain and disingenuous. Tall, or so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/he-was-attractive-and-he-knew-it-but-he-pretended-he-had-no-idea/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [“Cecily let her cheek fall to Leta’s shoulder and hugged her back. It felt so nice to be loved by someone in the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/cecily-let-her-cheek-fall-to-leta-s-shoulder-and-hugged-her-back-it/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [“He got in beside her and impatiently reached for her seat belt, snapping it in place. “You always forget,” he murmured, meeting her eyes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/he-got-in-beside-her-and-impatiently-reached-for-her-seat-belt/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [“That man is such a damn turd monkey." "Grandma!" I said. "Oh, Zoeybird, did I just call your mother's husband a damn turd monkey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-c-cast/that-man-is-such-a-damn-turd-monkey-grandma-i-said-oh-zoeybird-did-i/) [P.C. Cast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-c-cast/) > [“But he had the kindest face in the world, with big, dark eyes and buzzed-cut brown hair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-c-stephens/but-he-had-the-kindest-face-in-the-world-with-big-dark-eyes-and/) [S.C. Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-c-stephens/) > [And all my days are trances, And all my nightly dreams Are where thy dark eye glances, And where thy footstep gleams-- In what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/and-all-my-days-are-trances-and-all-my-nightly-dreams-are-where-thy/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [“They were all around him, half a dozen of them, white-faced children with dark eyes, boys and girls together. And in their hands, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/they-were-all-around-him-half-a-dozen-of-them-white-faced-children/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Sylvia's dark eyes widened. "You are more than you appear to be" "Yes. I am a monster of Darkness, a beast," he agreed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sylvia-s-dark-eyes-widened-you-are-more-than-you-appear-to-be-yes-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“With a laugh exposing a kissable mouth and perfect teeth, he glances my way again, his entire demeanor tensing for a second, those dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppet/with-a-laugh-exposing-a-kissable-mouth-and-perfect-teeth-he-glances/) [Poppet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppet/) > [“Let’s go home,” she said. He arched his brows. “Already? I thought you would want to stay for a while.” Dark eyes flashed. “No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/let-s-go-home-she-said-he-arched-his-brows-already-i-thought-you/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [“there are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth – not going all the way and not starting”.’ She looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-buchanan/there-are-only-two-mistakes-one-can-make-along-the-road-to-truth-not/) [Tracy Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-buchanan/) > [Hey Sydney," she said, giving me a small, crooked smile as she entered the room. Her flashing, dark eyes were friendly, but they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/hey-sydney-she-said-giving-me-a-small-crooked-smile-as-she-entered/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [A blue eye is a true eye; Mysterious is a dark one, Which flashes like a spark sun! A black eye is the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-rounseville-alger/a-blue-eye-is-a-true-eye-mysterious-is-a-dark-one-which-flashes-like/) [William Rounseville Alger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-rounseville-alger/) ## More by Jackie French Koller > [“Why, it’s hotter than Hades in here,” said Miss Lizzie. She went right over and threw the window open. “No wonder he’s lookin’ so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-french-koller/why-it-s-hotter-than-hades-in-here-said-miss-lizzie-she-went-right/) [Jackie French Koller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-french-koller/) > [“Denny leaned back in her chair. She put her hands together and rested her chin on them. Then she glanced at Spence out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-french-koller/denny-leaned-back-in-her-chair-she-put-her-hands-together-and-rested/) [Jackie French Koller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-french-koller/) > [“Well, then,” said Mr. Jones. “Denise, what do you say you and I go get some mussels?” Denny eyed him skeptically. She didn’t particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-french-koller/well-then-said-mr-jones-denise-what-do-you-say-you-and-i-go-get-some/) [Jackie French Koller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-french-koller/) > [“We’ll fix it before then,” said Denny. “Don’t worry.” Mr. Jones didn’t look convinced. “If it wasn’t for this dumb leg,” he shouted, “I’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-french-koller/we-ll-fix-it-before-then-said-denny-don-t-worry-mr-jones-didn-t-look/) [Jackie French Koller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-french-koller/) > [“Get a dog biscuit out of that cabinet there,” Mr. Jones told Denny. Denny found a box of Milk-Bones and took one out. Mr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-french-koller/get-a-dog-biscuit-out-of-that-cabinet-there-mr-jones-told-denny-denny/) [Jackie French Koller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-french-koller/) > [“The Jeep was parked at the beginning of the causeway when Denny got off the bus. She ignored it and started toward the island.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-french-koller/the-jeep-was-parked-at-the-beginning-of-the-causeway-when-denny-got/) [Jackie French Koller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-french-koller/) > [“Denny had been a little skeptical of her mother's fix-it ideas ever since the night her mother had fixed the shower head drip by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-french-koller/denny-had-been-a-little-skeptical-of-her-mother-s-fix-it-ideas-ever/) [Jackie French Koller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-french-koller/) > [“Spence beached the boat and strutted up to where Denny and Mr. Jones were working. He stared at Denny and smiled. “You got enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-french-koller/spence-beached-the-boat-and-strutted-up-to-where-denny-and-mr-jones/) [Jackie French Koller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-french-koller/) > [“So what do we do, dress up like orderlies and sneak him out in the laundry cart?” “Something like that.” “Oh, c’mon, Spence, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-french-koller/so-what-do-we-do-dress-up-like-orderlies-and-sneak-him-out-in-the/) [Jackie French Koller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-french-koller/) > [“When two figures emerged, Denny winced. What on earth was Mr. Jones doing with that loser? Marty was trotting happily alongside the pair. “Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-french-koller/when-two-figures-emerged-denny-winced-what-on-earth-was-mr-jones/) [Jackie French Koller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-french-koller/) > [“Mr. Jones’s eyes were closed. His head was bandaged like a mummy’s and tubes came out of his arm, connecting him to a number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-french-koller/mr-jones-s-eyes-were-closed-his-head-was-bandaged-like-a-mummy-s-and/) [Jackie French Koller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-french-koller/) > [“They had to park the Jeep, load the engine parts into the dinghy, and row across the bar, so by the time they reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-french-koller/they-had-to-park-the-jeep-load-the-engine-parts-into-the-dinghy-and/) [Jackie French Koller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-french-koller/) > [“I looked over at the empty, black windows of the Whites' apartment, windows that were warm and yellow just yesterday, and I shivered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-french-koller/i-looked-over-at-the-empty-black-windows-of-the-whites-apartment/) [Jackie French Koller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-french-koller/) > [There are two ways to be rich: One is by acquiring much, and the other is by desiring little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-french-koller/there-are-two-ways-to-be-rich-one-is-by-acquiring-much-and-the-other/) [Jackie French Koller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-french-koller/) > [“The Jeep was parked at the edge of the causeway, just above the bar. Mr. Jones often left it there, now that he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-french-koller/the-jeep-was-parked-at-the-edge-of-the-causeway-just-above-the-bar-mr/) [Jackie French Koller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-french-koller/) [Explore all 19 Jackie French Koller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-french-koller/) ## More Dark eyes quotes > [A blue eye is a true eye; Mysterious is a dark one, Which flashes like a spark sun! A black eye is the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-rounseville-alger/a-blue-eye-is-a-true-eye-mysterious-is-a-dark-one-which-flashes-like/) [William Rounseville Alger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-rounseville-alger/) > [Hey Sydney," she said, giving me a small, crooked smile as she entered the room. 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I thought you would want to stay for a while.” Dark eyes flashed. “No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/let-s-go-home-she-said-he-arched-his-brows-already-i-thought-you/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [“With a laugh exposing a kissable mouth and perfect teeth, he glances my way again, his entire demeanor tensing for a second, those dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppet/with-a-laugh-exposing-a-kissable-mouth-and-perfect-teeth-he-glances/) [Poppet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppet/) > [Sylvia's dark eyes widened. "You are more than you appear to be" "Yes. I am a monster of Darkness, a beast," he agreed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sylvia-s-dark-eyes-widened-you-are-more-than-you-appear-to-be-yes-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“They were all around him, half a dozen of them, white-faced children with dark eyes, boys and girls together. And in their hands, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/they-were-all-around-him-half-a-dozen-of-them-white-faced-children/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [And all my days are trances, And all my nightly dreams Are where thy dark eye glances, And where thy footstep gleams-- In what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/and-all-my-days-are-trances-and-all-my-nightly-dreams-are-where-thy/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [“But he had the kindest face in the world, with big, dark eyes and buzzed-cut brown hair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-c-stephens/but-he-had-the-kindest-face-in-the-world-with-big-dark-eyes-and/) [S.C. Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-c-stephens/) > [“That man is such a damn turd monkey." "Grandma!" I said. "Oh, Zoeybird, did I just call your mother's husband a damn turd monkey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-c-cast/that-man-is-such-a-damn-turd-monkey-grandma-i-said-oh-zoeybird-did-i/) [P.C. Cast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-c-cast/) > [“She turned and eyed Jane, her dark eyes cool. Jane could see the thought process. Competition? Nope. Jane was dismissed after a moment without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/she-turned-and-eyed-jane-her-dark-eyes-cool-jane-could-see-the/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“whose dark eyes narrowed to lightless almonds,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-n-holmberg/whose-dark-eyes-narrowed-to-lightless-almonds/) [Charlie N. Holmberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-n-holmberg/) > [“Bram stared into a pair of wide, dark eyes. Eyes that reflected a surprising glimmer of intelligence. This might be the rare female a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/bram-stared-into-a-pair-of-wide-dark-eyes-eyes-that-reflected-a/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“I’d die for you, Dan. No questions asked.” “No, Vadim. No.” Dan’s dark eyes were unforgivingly intense. “You must not die for me, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-voinov/i-d-die-for-you-dan-no-questions-asked-no-vadim-no-dan-s-dark-eyes/) [Aleksandr Voinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-voinov/) > [“And then he asked me how I felt about you.” Now I put real effort into wrestling out of his choke hold, eventually succeeding.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-keyes/and-then-he-asked-me-how-i-felt-about-you-now-i-put-real-effort-into/) [Julianna Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-keyes/) [Browse all 366 Dark eyes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-eyes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Mr. Jones had just started her on scraping the bottom when he came around the bow and stopped short. He shook his head in disbelief. “How did you manage to get so filthy so fast?” he said. “Didn’t I tell you to wear a painter’s cap?” Denny shrugged and squinted at him through her safety goggles. “I thought the wind would blow the old paint and junk away as I scraped it off,” she said. Mr. Jones came over and took a closer look. “Look at your hair,” he said. “Your mother’s going to kill me. Try and shake some of that junk out of it.” Denny leaned over and shook her hair in the wind. She was almost sorry she’d let it grow. Long hair was such a pain sometimes. She heard the putter of an outboard motor and looked up to see Spence making his way across the bay. “Him again,” she grumbled, but she pulled the comb out of her back pocket and started furiously tugging at her hair. Mr. Jones grinned. “Thought you couldn’t stand him,” he said. “I can’t,” said Denny, whipping off her safety glasses. “Oh,” said Mr. Jones; then he gave her a maddening smile and went back to rebuilding the cradle. Denny glanced at Spence out of the corner of her eye as he approached. He stood at the wheel, wearing a knit sailor’s cap and an old navy peacoat. A shock of blond hair stuck out under the cap and was swept back by the wind. His dark eyes squinted into the sun, and the cut of his jaw was firm and square. 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