--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I called. Why wasn't anyone here?\"- Elena…" description: "\"I called. Why wasn't anyone here?\"- Elena We were here.\" Clay said. \"Around, anyway. You should have left a message.\" I did. Two hours ago.\" - Elena We..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/kelley-armstrong-581_behavior_i-called-why-wasn-t-anyone-here-elena-we_1501782.png" --- # I called. Why wasn't anyone here?"- Elena We were here."… ![“I called. Why wasn't anyone here?"- Elena We were here." Clay said. "Around, anyway. You should have left a message." I did. Two hours ago." - Elena Well that explains it. I've been out, by the gate all day, waiting for you, and you know Jer never checks the machine."- Clayton I didn't know how…” quote by Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/kelley-armstrong-581_behavior_i-called-why-wasn-t-anyone-here-elena-we_1501782.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/kelley-armstrong-581_behavior_i-called-why-wasn-t-anyone-here-elena-we_1501782.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/kelley-armstrong-581_behavior_i-called-why-wasn-t-anyone-here-elena-we_1501782.png) > “I called. Why wasn't anyone here?"- Elena We were here." Clay said. "Around, anyway. You should have left a message." I did. Two hours ago." - Elena Well that explains it. I've been out, by the gate all day, waiting for you, and you know Jer never checks the machine."- Clayton I didn't know how Clay had known I was coming back today when I hadn't left a message. Nor did I question why he'd spent the entire day waiting at the gate. Clay's behavior couldn't be measured by human standard's of normalcy... or by any standards of normalcy at all. Bitten” [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator describes a surreal encounter where expectations are subverted, highlighting miscommunication and the absurdity of waiting. **In simple terms:** Misunderstandings lead to odd, waiting situations. Key Takeaway Clarify expectations to avoid unnecessary waiting. Themes miscommunication waiting absurdity Mood reflective amused Type narrative conversational When to use this quote - customer service - relationships - event planning - online dating Key Concepts human behavior social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Why do we assume others know our plans? - How can we improve signaling? A Different Perspective Assuming others will act without clear signals can cause frustration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Messages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messages/) [Normalcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normalcy/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [“She’s my daughter,” Clay said, stepping forward. “What do you plan to do with her?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-besser/she-s-my-daughter-clay-said-stepping-forward-what-do-you-plan-to-do/) [Rebecca Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-besser/) > [“Wow," Clay said. "Never thought I'd see the day a woman walked away from you. And in the middle of a the desert." He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-bielman/wow-clay-said-never-thought-i-d-see-the-day-a-woman-walked-away-from/) [Robin Bielman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-bielman/) > [“Ganelon sighed. "Slowhand..." "Never again," Clay said. "Where you stand, I stand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-eames/ganelon-sighed-slowhand-never-again-clay-said-where-you-stand-i-stand/) [Nicholas Eames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-eames/) > [“How could Clay have said all that, smooth as Kentucky bourbon, and Mom just sitting there as if she’d already drunk the bottle...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huntley-fitzpatrick/how-could-clay-have-said-all-that-smooth-as-kentucky-bourbon-and-mom/) [Huntley Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huntley-fitzpatrick/) > [I had a pretty modest upbringing; it was no pleasure cruise. I don't think I would be as happy today if I hadn't been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanilla-ice/i-had-a-pretty-modest-upbringing-it-was-no-pleasure-cruise-i-don-t/) [Vanilla Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanilla-ice/) > [Sure, I'm ashamed of a lot of the things I did, but at the same time, I wouldn't be the person I am today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-antonio-chavira/sure-i-m-ashamed-of-a-lot-of-the-things-i-did-but-at-the-same-time-i/) [Ricardo Antonio Chavira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-antonio-chavira/) > [“And, they would still be alive today...If they hadn't died, that is”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rotraut-susanne-berner/and-they-would-still-be-alive-today-if-they-hadn-t-died-that-is/) Rotraut Susanne Berner > [I'm so grateful for the marriages that I have had. 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A billion seconds ago, the IBM personal computer was released.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laszlo-bock/a-billion-hours-ago-modern-homo-sapiens-emerged-a-billion-minutes-ago/) [Laszlo Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laszlo-bock/) > [I like to dissociate myself from the person I was even three hours ago. It's a natural requirement to be a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varun-grover/i-like-to-dissociate-myself-from-the-person-i-was-even-three-hours/) [Varun Grover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varun-grover/) > [“everything I understood seven hours ago has already changed, and that I have to learn everything again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/everything-i-understood-seven-hours-ago-has-already-changed-and-that/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [“I’d had him inside me barely a few hours ago and that later he had come all over my chest, because he said he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/i-d-had-him-inside-me-barely-a-few-hours-ago-and-that-later-he-had/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) > [“The people hustling by her would never have guessed that less than twelve hours ago she'd looked like a cross between Carrie and Mrs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-thompson/the-people-hustling-by-her-would-never-have-guessed-that-less-than/) [Mia Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-thompson/) ## More by Kelley Armstrong > [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“He turned my way, and I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't notice for a second. Then I realized I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/he-turned-my-way-and-i-was-so-engrossed-in-my-thoughts-that-i-didn-t/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [when times are tough, the weak bail and the tough get creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-times-are-tough-the-weak-bail-and-the-tough-get-creative/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Nuh-uh. No deals with the devil. 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I can read negative reviews and say, 'You know that point they made... they were dead on.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/reviews-are-great-i-can-read-negative-reviews-and-say-you-know-that/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [When a series is doing well, it's very tempting to keep writing it, even when the creative well is drying up. It's tempting because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-a-series-is-doing-well-it-s-very-tempting-to-keep-writing-it/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [You bat your baby blues at tall, dark, and gruesome, and next thing you know, he's trailing you like a lost puppy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/you-bat-your-baby-blues-at-tall-dark-and-gruesome-and-next-thing-you/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [With no chance to take off, I had to play my role, searching for the rendezvous spot, which gave me the excuse to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/with-no-chance-to-take-off-i-had-to-play-my-role-searching-for-the/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [When I glanced at the chair, it started to shake. I’d like to think it was scared of me, but I rarely invoked that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-i-glanced-at-the-chair-it-started-to-shake-i-d-like-to-think-it/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“Nonsense, Chloe. I certainly hope you aren't afraid of cemeteries" "Um, no" Tori said. "It's the bodies buried in them that worry her. Uh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/nonsense-chloe-i-certainly-hope-you-aren-t-afraid-of-cemeteries-um-no/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I was...a journalist...though my typical beat was freelancing articles on Canadian politics, which never included any mention of demonic phenomena, though it might explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-was-a-journalist-though-my-typical-beat-was-freelancing-articles-on/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I found something" Simon said as he walked in. He whipped out an old-fashioned key from his pocket and grinned at me. "It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-found-something-simon-said-as-he-walked-in-he-whipped-out-an-old/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“He laughed and tugged me down in a kiss. Then, lips still close enough to feel them tickle mine, he said, "You know this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/he-laughed-and-tugged-me-down-in-a-kiss-then-lips-still-close-enough/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) [Explore all 458 Kelley Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## More Behavior quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I now know that deep within the human concept is something dark, selfish, and completely willing to do whatever is necessary to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-west/i-now-know-that-deep-within-the-human-concept-is-something-dark/) [Melissa West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-west/) > [“We are endowed with genes which code out our reaction to beavers and otters, maybe our reaction to each other as well. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) Burne Hogarth > [You don't put milk in chamomile tea - that's disgusting behavior! That's not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/you-don-t-put-milk-in-chamomile-tea-that-s-disgusting-behavior-that-s/) [Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) J. Willard Gibbs > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-tipping-point-is-that-magic-moment-when-an-idea-trend-or-social/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I think we've told a lot of lies about human behavior through film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/i-think-we-ve-told-a-lot-of-lies-about-human-behavior-through-film/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [The strongest rebellion may be expressed in quiet, undramatic behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/the-strongest-rebellion-may-be-expressed-in-quiet-undramatic-behavior/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 4,218 Behavior quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I called. Why wasn't anyone here?\"- Elena We were here.\" Clay said. \"Around, anyway. You should have left a message.\" I did. Two hours ago.\" - Elena Well that explains it. I've been out, by the gate all day, waiting for you, and you know Jer never checks the machine.\"- Clayton I didn't know how Clay had known I was coming back today when I hadn't left a message. Nor did I question why he'd spent the entire day waiting at the gate. Clay's behavior couldn't be measured by human standard's of normalcy... or by any standards of normalcy at all. 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