--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That present sucked,\" I muttered. Dad…" description: "\"“That present sucked,\" I muttered. Dad slipped an arm around my shoulder and helped me sit up. As he did, his sleeve fell back to reveal several sliver..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/rachel-hawkins-379_gaze_that-present-sucked-i-muttered-dad-slipp_244364.jpg" --- # That present sucked," I muttered. Dad slipped an arm… ![“That present sucked," I muttered. Dad slipped an arm around my shoulder and helped me sit up. As he did, his sleeve fell back to reveal several slivers of demonglass embedded in his forearm. "I'm fine," he said before I could ask. "Cal can get them out later. Are you all right?" My shoulder was…” quote by Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/rachel-hawkins-379_gaze_that-present-sucked-i-muttered-dad-slipp_244364.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/rachel-hawkins-379_gaze_that-present-sucked-i-muttered-dad-slipp_244364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/rachel-hawkins-379_gaze_that-present-sucked-i-muttered-dad-slipp_244364.jpg) > ““That present sucked," I muttered. Dad slipped an arm around my shoulder and helped me sit up. As he did, his sleeve fell back to reveal several slivers of demonglass embedded in his forearm. "I'm fine," he said before I could ask. "Cal can get them out later. Are you all right?" My shoulder was still on fire, but there was no pain anywhere else, and other than the shock of being blown backward and stabbed, I was peachy. "I think so. What was that, like a magic pipe bomb?" The present lay in tatters on the floor, its ribbon coiling and snapping like a snake. Cal stomped on the ribbon, and it went still. "Seems like it," he said grimly. "And it was ensorcelled to seek you out," Dad added. He looked so worried and angry that I decided not to give him a hard time for using a word like ensorcelled. ”” [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A child confronts a dangerous, magical attack, showing resilience and family support amid trauma. **In simple terms:** A kid faces a magical attack but stays strong with help. Key Takeaway Stay calm and rely on loved ones during crises. Themes resilience family magic trauma courage Mood tense hopeful Type narrative dramatic.inspirational When to use this quote - emergency response - family bonding - self‑care - combat training Key Concepts magical realism combat survival Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay composed when danger feels surreal? - What role does family play in your crisis response? A Different Perspective The magical element may be metaphorical, limiting literal applicability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hard time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-time/) ## Related quotes > [Whether Theresa May had stabbed has stabbed the former Mayor of London in the back and Michael Gove had stabbed him in the front.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-evans/whether-theresa-may-had-stabbed-has-stabbed-the-former-mayor-of/) Nigel Evans > [That painful moment when the roof of your mouth gets stabbed by a Dorito.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itsme867/that-painful-moment-when-the-roof-of-your-mouth-gets-stabbed-by-a/) Itsme867 > [CPR dummy looked like him and had clearly been stabbed. Repeatedly. In the groin. He thought she might have used the dummy for target…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/cpr-dummy-looked-like-him-and-had-clearly-been-stabbed-repeatedly-in/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [“I am going to die, her brain recited calmly. I am going to be stabbed until I am died. How infuriating. I have so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-legrand/i-am-going-to-die-her-brain-recited-calmly-i-am-going-to-be-stabbed/) [Claire Legrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-legrand/) > [“Chip Robbins, how many times have I told you not to yell out for me unless you're being stabbed with a pitchfork?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/chip-robbins-how-many-times-have-i-told-you-not-to-yell-out-for-me/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [I may act like everything is fine between us, but in my head I have stabbed you 7 times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/i-may-act-like-everything-is-fine-between-us-but-in-my-head-i-have/) Author Name > [“And for the love of God, bitch, don't get stabbed this time!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/and-for-the-love-of-god-bitch-don-t-get-stabbed-this-time/) [Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/) > [“You're half-dead, yet you have the vigor to philander? I was stabbed, not castrated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-holt/you-re-half-dead-yet-you-have-the-vigor-to-philander-i-was-stabbed/) [Cheryl Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-holt/) > [“She thumped her weapon (others might call it a cane, but he knew better) against the floor. “Fell off your horse?” “No, I—” “Tripped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/she-thumped-her-weapon-others-might-call-it-a-cane-but-he-knew-better/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“At the last minute, she bobbed left so that he stabbed the wall she'd hit, trapping the blade in the Sheetrock. As he went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/at-the-last-minute-she-bobbed-left-so-that-he-stabbed-the-wall-she-d/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [I find it kind of disturbing when people cheer when someone just gets stabbed brutally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-baker/i-find-it-kind-of-disturbing-when-people-cheer-when-someone-just-gets/) [Rick Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-baker/) > [Opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the back and instead of bleeding, he sings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/opera-is-when-a-guy-gets-stabbed-in-the-back-and-instead-of-bleeding/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Whatever you do, be gentle. People might have forgiven your harsh words but they may never forget how it stabbed their heart at that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mufti-ismail-menk/whatever-you-do-be-gentle-people-might-have-forgiven-your-harsh-words/) [Mufti Ismail Menk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mufti-ismail-menk/) > [Rita folded her arms around herself and peered up at me. “If you’d asked me three months ago I’d have said you were hitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-e-murphy/rita-folded-her-arms-around-herself-and-peered-up-at-me-if-you-d/) [C.E. Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-e-murphy/) > [“He stabbed into her, driving deeply, repeatedly, iron-hard and demanding. She welcomed the piercing pleasure of his urgency, opening her legs wider, pushing her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-de-maupassant/he-stabbed-into-her-driving-deeply-repeatedly-iron-hard-and-demanding/) [Emmanuelle de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-de-maupassant/) ## More by Rachel Hawkins > [“Cal stepped forward, hopefully to come to my rescue. "I could toss her off the pier, Ms. Vanderlyden." Or not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/cal-stepped-forward-hopefully-to-come-to-my-rescue-i-could-toss-her/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Or maybe your magic isn't that destructive after all. The rain of Doritos, the bed thing,this...Maybe it's just that you create too big, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/or-maybe-your-magic-isn-t-that-destructive-after-all-the-rain-of/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“We headed down a narrow flight of stairs that ended at a low arch. Beyond the arch was yet another murky room. Did these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/we-headed-down-a-narrow-flight-of-stairs-that-ended-at-a-low-arch/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“I know it looks vaguely unsanitary and potentially scandalous, Nana, but I promise that Izzy and I are only pursuing noble...pursuits. We've even got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/i-know-it-looks-vaguely-unsanitary-and-potentially-scandalous-nana/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Looking back, none of this would have happened if I’d brought lip gloss the night of the Homecoming Dance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/looking-back-none-of-this-would-have-happened-if-i-d-brought-lip/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Izzy was sitting cross-legged on the couch, a paper-back book in her hands. She didn’t look up when we came in, and I wondered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/izzy-was-sitting-cross-legged-on-the-couch-a-paper-back-book-in-her/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“I knew." "What?" "I knew what you were then, Sophie. Your dad told me before the betrothal. And you told me about your grandmother,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/i-knew-what-i-knew-what-you-were-then-sophie-your-dad-told-me-before/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Welcome to The Twilight Zone!” The “Holy-crap-that’s-a-lot-of-pink” Zone would have been a more accurate description.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/welcome-to-the-twilight-zone-the-holy-crap-that-s-a-lot-of-pink-zone/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“There was an intruder on a forbidden part of the island, and the security system was compromised." Another image of Archer's sword slicing through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/there-was-an-intruder-on-a-forbidden-part-of-the-island-and-the/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Do you remember the section on controlling demons in Demonologies ? I believe it's in chapter five." "Um...no." Irritation flashed over his face. "Honestly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/do-you-remember-the-section-on-controlling-demons-in-demonologies-i/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Both of us widened our eyes and said, "Woah." Then I immediately blushed. Oh my God, had I just looked at Archer and said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/both-of-us-widened-our-eyes-and-said-woah-then-i-immediately-blushed/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Ah, Grace and Aislinn arguing. It’s like old times again,” a male voice said, sounding vaguely muffled. “Could someone take this blasted thing off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/ah-grace-and-aislinn-arguing-it-s-like-old-times-again-a-male-voice/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Why do you think Lara is Lara Casnoff, and Mrs. Casnoff is Mrs. Casnoff?” Elodie whispered as she worked her magic on the enchanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/why-do-you-think-lara-is-lara-casnoff-and-mrs-casnoff-is-mrs-casnoff/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Put simply,she freaked me the hell out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/put-simply-she-freaked-me-the-hell-out/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“When someone tells you somebody's been murdered, laughing is probably not the best response. You know, for future reference. But laughing is exactly what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/when-someone-tells-you-somebody-s-been-murdered-laughing-is-probably/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) [Explore all 614 Rachel Hawkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) ## More Gaze quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [“Taylor said a prayer for the man, and apologized out loud. Knowing there was nothing left to do, she turned to leave. As she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/taylor-said-a-prayer-for-the-man-and-apologized-out-loud-knowing/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“If it makes you feel any better, he’s been all sad doll lately too.” “What are you talking about, Chels?” Chelsea stopped walking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/if-it-makes-you-feel-any-better-he-s-been-all-sad-doll-lately-too/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“Rodrigo tried to draw a deep breath, but his chest was too filled with anguish, rage and guilt. He kissed his ash-coated fingers. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-valdez/rodrigo-tried-to-draw-a-deep-breath-but-his-chest-was-too-filled-with/) [Lisa Valdez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-valdez/) > [“still feel the same way? Could he have changed this much on the inside too? Struggling for the right words, I opened my mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-wild/still-feel-the-same-way-could-he-have-changed-this-much-on-the-inside/) [Meredith Wild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-wild/) > [“Being held by him, kissed and mastered, taken under and swept away, enthralled her in a way she—an independent woman if nothing else in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-sumner/being-held-by-him-kissed-and-mastered-taken-under-and-swept-away/) [Tracy Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-sumner/) > [“Don’t you remember how hot we were together, Lane? God.” He takes a quick breath through clenched teeth and runs his hand down my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-a-valentine/don-t-you-remember-how-hot-we-were-together-lane-god-he-takes-a-quick/) [Michelle A. Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-a-valentine/) > [“She knew how to play him so very well. He slipped his hand around hers. "Friends," he repeated roughly. Her smile was bright enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/she-knew-how-to-play-him-so-very-well-he-slipped-his-hand-around-hers/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [“Damn.” Phineas turned the Big Boy off, then noticed he’d left the box on the bed. Damn, had Zoltan seen it? He stuffed the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerrelyn-sparks/damn-phineas-turned-the-big-boy-off-then-noticed-he-d-left-the-box-on/) [Kerrelyn Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerrelyn-sparks/) > [“Now you," Grandma barks at him. "Yes, you, the invisible truck driver," she added, giving me a wicked grin. "Go stand next to Rose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/now-you-grandma-barks-at-him-yes-you-the-invisible-truck-driver-she/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-fingertips-slid-down-from-my-face-lightly-stroking-the-line-of-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) > [“You know when I said I didn't need you?" I asked. He lifted one brow. "I was so wrong.I can't find words to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/you-know-when-i-said-i-didn-t-need-you-i-asked-he-lifted-one-brow-i/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [“I didn’t say it just to get you to jump. I’m in love with you, Zane,” he admitted in a calm, clear voice. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-urban/i-didn-t-say-it-just-to-get-you-to-jump-i-m-in-love-with-you-zane-he/) [Madeleine Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-urban/) > [“This explains so much," she said, clucking her tongue in mother-hen fashion. "You're compensating for this withered appendage." Withered appendage? What the devil was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/this-explains-so-much-she-said-clucking-her-tongue-in-mother-hen/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) Browse all 15,087 Gaze quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“That present sucked,\" I muttered. Dad slipped an arm around my shoulder and helped me sit up. As he did, his sleeve fell back to reveal several slivers of demonglass embedded in his forearm. \"I'm fine,\" he said before I could ask. \"Cal can get them out later. Are you all right?\" My shoulder was still on fire, but there was no pain anywhere else, and other than the shock of being blown backward and stabbed, I was peachy. \"I think so. What was that, like a magic pipe bomb?\" The present lay in tatters on the floor, its ribbon coiling and snapping like a snake. Cal stomped on the ribbon, and it went still. \"Seems like it,\" he said grimly. \"And it was ensorcelled to seek you out,\" Dad added. He looked so worried and angry that I decided not to give him a hard time for using a word like ensorcelled. ”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rachel Hawkins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/that-present-sucked-i-muttered-dad-slipped-an-arm-around-my-shoulder/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gaze" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/that-present-sucked-i-muttered-dad-slipped-an-arm-around-my-shoulder/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/rachel-hawkins-379_gaze_that-present-sucked-i-muttered-dad-slipp_244364.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/rachel-hawkins-379_gaze_that-present-sucked-i-muttered-dad-slipp_244364.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/rachel-hawkins-379_gaze_that-present-sucked-i-muttered-dad-slipp_244364.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That present sucked,\" I muttered. Dad slipped an arm around my shoulder and helped me sit up. As he did, his…” — Rachel Hawkins", "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": "Rachel Hawkins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“That present sucked,\" I muttered. Dad...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/that-present-sucked-i-muttered-dad-slipped-an-arm-around-my-shoulder/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/that-present-sucked-i-muttered-dad-slipped-an-arm-around-my-shoulder/#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 } } ] } ```