--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What are you doing?\" \"Ya!\" said Jane…" description: "\"What are you doing?\" \"Ya!\" said Jane, whirling around, her hands held up menacingly. It was Mr. Nobley with coat, hat, and cane, watching her with wide..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/shannon-hale-827_awkward_what-are-you-doing-ya-said-jane-whirling_1651075.png" --- # What are you doing?" "Ya!" said Jane, whirling around, her… ![“What are you doing?" "Ya!" said Jane, whirling around, her hands held up menacingly. It was Mr. Nobley with coat, hat, and cane, watching her with wide eyes. Jane took several quick (but oh so casual) steps away from Martin's window. "Um, did I just say, 'Ya'?" "You just said 'Ya,'" he confirmed…” quote by Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/shannon-hale-827_awkward_what-are-you-doing-ya-said-jane-whirling_1651075.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/shannon-hale-827_awkward_what-are-you-doing-ya-said-jane-whirling_1651075.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/shannon-hale-827_awkward_what-are-you-doing-ya-said-jane-whirling_1651075.png) > “What are you doing?" "Ya!" said Jane, whirling around, her hands held up menacingly. It was Mr. Nobley with coat, hat, and cane, watching her with wide eyes. Jane took several quick (but oh so casual) steps away from Martin's window. "Um, did I just say, 'Ya'?" "You just said 'Ya,'" he confirmed. "If I am not mistaken, it was a battle cry, warning that you were about to attack me. I, uh..." She stopped to laugh. "I wasn't aware until this precise and awkward moment that when startled in a startled in a strange place, my instincts would have me pretend to be a ninja.” [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A sudden, awkward moment forces the character to react instinctively, leading to a humorous, self‑aware realization about her own exaggerated response. **In simple terms:** An awkward surprise triggers a funny, self‑aware reaction. Key Takeaway Embrace humor when caught off guard. Themes humor self‑awareness instinct Mood lighthearted playful Type comedic narrative When to use this quote - school hallway - family gathering - public speaking Key Concepts social anxiety improvisation identity Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle unexpected social pressure? - When does humor help defuse tension? A Different Perspective The scene relies heavily on exaggerated comedy, which may not reflect real reactions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awkward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awkward/) [Awkward moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awkward-moment/) [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Battle cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle-cry/) [Casual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casual/) [Coats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coats/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Hats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hats/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Jane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jane/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Mistaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistaken/) [Moment Startled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment-startled-654726/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Ninja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ninja/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Ya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-ya-654724/) [Startled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/startled/) [Startled Startled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/startled-startled-654730/) [Startled Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/startled-strange-654728/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) [Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange/) [Warning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warning/) [Wide eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wide-eyes/) [Window](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/window/) ## Related quotes > [Lord, catch me off guard today. 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It was Mr. Nobley with coat, hat, and cane, watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/what-are-you-doing-ya-said-jane-whirling-around-her-hands-held-up/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [What's this about?" "Finally. Interest," was the only response. "If this is one of your tricks..." Like the time Torin had ordered hundreds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/what-s-this-about-finally-interest-was-the-only-response-if-this-is/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [“impatiently. “What is it?” Emma seemed to remember how to speak again, but her wide eyes continued”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-reed/impatiently-what-is-it-emma-seemed-to-remember-how-to-speak-again-but/) [J.C. 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'Of course he wasn't! Who could kill Razo?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/enna-leaned-back-her-head-and-laughed-at-the-sky-of-course-he-wasn-t/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [“Um… I guess that’s that,” said Cerise. “That?” said Maddie. “That is never that. This is that. Or else that is this. And this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/um-i-guess-that-s-that-said-cerise-that-said-maddie-that-is-never/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [The book smelled dusty and old but also carried a sweet tang, a hint of something inviting. She opened to the first page and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/the-book-smelled-dusty-and-old-but-also-carried-a-sweet-tang-a-hint/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [Geric," she called. He turned back around. "What kind of flowers were they?" "I don't rightly know," he said. He made faltering gestures with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/geric-she-called-he-turned-back-around-what-kind-of-flowers-were-they/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [How I keep trying to force our story into a fairy tale, but from the beginning, it's been more like a nursery rhyme." "Bizarre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/how-i-keep-trying-to-force-our-story-into-a-fairy-tale-but-from-the/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [“He wildly combed his hair with his fingers. “I can’t bear to be out there with you right now, all those indifferent people watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/he-wildly-combed-his-hair-with-his-fingers-i-can-t-bear-to-be-out/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [But, how do you know if an ending is truly good for the characters unless you've traveled with them through every page?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/but-how-do-you-know-if-an-ending-is-truly-good-for-the-characters/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [“Sometimes it seems my identity’s a matter of opinion”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/sometimes-it-seems-my-identity-s-a-matter-of-opinion/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [The snow was too light to stay, the ground too warm to keep it. And the strange spring snow fell only in that golden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/the-snow-was-too-light-to-stay-the-ground-too-warm-to-keep-it-and-the/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [Even the jerks earn some of our affection. We can be glad they're gone and yet still mourn the good parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/even-the-jerks-earn-some-of-our-affection-we-can-be-glad-they-re-gone/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [Smell is the voice of the soul...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/smell-is-the-voice-of-the-soul/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [“It was my jewelry!” Briar shouted after his father because he’d forgotten to ask what was stolen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/it-was-my-jewelry-briar-shouted-after-his-father-because-he-d/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [Oh, but I like my geese. Like cats, they can't be told what to do, and like dogs, they're loyal, and like people, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/oh-but-i-like-my-geese-like-cats-they-can-t-be-told-what-to-do-and/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) [Explore all 358 Shannon Hale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) ## More Awkward quotes > [“I needed to stop staring at his bicep...and chest...and tattoo. Never thought the sun could be so...sexy. Wow. This was awkward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/i-needed-to-stop-staring-at-his-bicep-and-chest-and-tattoo-never/) [Jennifer L. 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