--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I smiled. “Nick, this is my dead…" description: "\"“I smiled. “Nick, this is my dead boyfriend, Robbie. If you can’t see him, at least you’ll be able to see the salt carton hanging in mid-air. My dog is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16c/stephen-osborne-28896_said-small_i-smiled-nick-this-is-my-dead-boyfriend_2643070.jpg" --- # I smiled. “Nick, this is my dead boyfriend, Robbie. If you… ![“I smiled. “Nick, this is my dead boyfriend, Robbie. If you can’t see him, at least you’ll be able to see the salt carton hanging in mid-air. My dog is a zombie, and I’ve got a friend that’s a witch.” “Oh,” he said in a very small voice. I nodded. “That’s pretty much what I asked you over to tell…” quote by Stephen Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16c/stephen-osborne-28896_said-small_i-smiled-nick-this-is-my-dead-boyfriend_2643070.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16c/stephen-osborne-28896_said-small_i-smiled-nick-this-is-my-dead-boyfriend_2643070.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16c/stephen-osborne-28896_said-small_i-smiled-nick-this-is-my-dead-boyfriend_2643070.jpg) > ““I smiled. “Nick, this is my dead boyfriend, Robbie. If you can’t see him, at least you’ll be able to see the salt carton hanging in mid-air. My dog is a zombie, and I’ve got a friend that’s a witch.” “Oh,” he said in a very small voice. I nodded. “That’s pretty much what I asked you over to tell you. So, what’s new with you?”” [Stephen Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-osborne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A surreal conversation blends grief, absurdity, and supernatural elements to explore coping with loss. **In simple terms:** Absurd talk about loss. Key Takeaway Use humor to process grief. Themes grief surrealism friendship Mood melancholic hopeful Type literary psychological When to use this quote - personal loss - creative writing - support groups Key Concepts psychology narrative therapy Questions to Reflect On - How does absurdity help healing? - When is it harmful? A Different Perspective Humor may mask deeper pain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“You're Miss F's boyfriend?" Danny looked up in disbelief, his gaze following Jim around the room. "You're real?" Tommy echoed the same surprise. "Dude,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-miller/you-re-miss-f-s-boyfriend-danny-looked-up-in-disbelief-his-gaze/) [Julie Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-miller/) > [“I said I thought she had a very fine voice. She nodded. 'I know. I'm going to be a professional singer.' 'Really? Opera?' 'Heavens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-said-i-thought-she-had-a-very-fine-voice-she-nodded-i-know-i-m/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [“Hi," she said, in a whispery voice, and nodded as if to confirm that she really meant it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/hi-she-said-in-a-whispery-voice-and-nodded-as-if-to-confirm-that-she/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [“Darling" she said with a small laugh "Love doesn’t have anything to do with this." "It has very thing to do with it!" I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/darling-she-said-with-a-small-laugh-love-doesn-t-have-anything-to-do/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [It is, Sir, as I have said, a small College, And yet, there are those who love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/it-is-sir-as-i-have-said-a-small-college-and-yet-there-are-those-who/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [I heard it all the time, but I never looked at it that way. People that said I was too small were the ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-gilmour/i-heard-it-all-the-time-but-i-never-looked-at-it-that-way-people-that/) Doug Gilmour > [“There's something to be said for small victories when they're made out of chocolate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-bailey/there-s-something-to-be-said-for-small-victories-when-they-re-made/) [Tessa Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-bailey/) > [“It is hard, but I have faith in him,” Dragos said. “He may be small, but he’s already proven that he has a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-harrison/it-is-hard-but-i-have-faith-in-him-dragos-said-he-may-be-small-but-he/) [Thea Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-harrison/) > [“Thanks," I said after a small stretch of silence, "for not giving up on me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/thanks-i-said-after-a-small-stretch-of-silence-for-not-giving-up-on-me/) [Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/) > [“The tiny princess glanced up with a shy smile. “Boyth, all,” she said, in a small, lisping voice. Morgan’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/the-tiny-princess-glanced-up-with-a-shy-smile-boyth-all-she-said-in-a/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“He shrugged . ‘That’s part of the game. Excess is an escape for me, a defence against old ghosts and what seems at times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-gibbs/he-shrugged-that-s-part-of-the-game-excess-is-an-escape-for-me-a/) [C.C. Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-gibbs/) > [Oh Darling! when you said you had a small gift for me, I thought you were going to unzip your pants again ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manish-bhagtani/oh-darling-when-you-said-you-had-a-small-gift-for-me-i-thought-you/) [Manish Bhagtani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manish-bhagtani/) > [“I'd say she is nothing short of a miracle, son." "I already knew that," I said, a small smile touching my lips.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fisher-amelie/i-d-say-she-is-nothing-short-of-a-miracle-son-i-already-knew-that-i/) [Fisher Amelie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fisher-amelie/) > [People said I was too small, too this, too that, too pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-taylor/people-said-i-was-too-small-too-this-too-that-too-pretty/) [Jason Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-taylor/) > [“All right, here comes the philosophy. You can leave if you like but I suggest you stick it out. You don’t measure your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-cotterill/all-right-here-comes-the-philosophy-you-can-leave-if-you-like-but-i/) [Colin Cotterill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-cotterill/) ## More by Stephen Osborne > [“Daisy was my beloved bulldog, who had some problems of her own—the main one being that she, too, was no longer alive. However, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-osborne/daisy-was-my-beloved-bulldog-who-had-some-problems-of-her-own-the/) [Stephen Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-osborne/) > [“If you’ve harmed one hair on Nick’s head, I’m going to send you to hell so fast that Satan won’t have time to stamp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-osborne/if-you-ve-harmed-one-hair-on-nick-s-head-i-m-going-to-send-you-to/) [Stephen Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-osborne/) > [“There was a framed print on the wall of dogs playing poker. I wanted to smash it to preserve the dignity of the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-osborne/there-was-a-framed-print-on-the-wall-of-dogs-playing-poker-i-wanted/) [Stephen Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-osborne/) > [“DINNER went off without a hitch up until the part where people actually sat down at the table and began to eat. 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I’m not overly fond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-osborne/it-s-my-spider-jeffrey-he-s-a-tarantula-yes-he-certainly-seems-to-be/) [Stephen Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-osborne/) > [“My hand found its way back to her knee. I hoped it was to comfort her. I’d hate to think that my right hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-osborne/my-hand-found-its-way-back-to-her-knee-i-hoped-it-was-to-comfort-her/) [Stephen Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-osborne/) > [“Sounds good. What sort of fun did you have in mind?” I rubbed my nose against his. “It’s kind of like putting together toys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-osborne/sounds-good-what-sort-of-fun-did-you-have-in-mind-i-rubbed-my-nose/) [Stephen Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-osborne/) > [“There are good kissers and bad kissers. Good kisser: Tony. Sweet, passionate, and his lips make every nerve in your body stand up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-osborne/there-are-good-kissers-and-bad-kissers-good-kisser-tony-sweet/) [Stephen Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-osborne/) > [“By standing and with me sitting, he was showing he was the dominant male in the room. I, however, had a .38 in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-osborne/by-standing-and-with-me-sitting-he-was-showing-he-was-the-dominant/) [Stephen Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-osborne/) > [“I at least got Carson calmed down a little. Interested, he asked, “Really? There are demons who do that? Fuck all the time?” “Yeah.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-osborne/i-at-least-got-carson-calmed-down-a-little-interested-he-asked-really/) [Stephen Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-osborne/) > [“It’s just that… I’m wanting to start dating myself.” I saw Gina’s eyes bug out. “I don’t mean dating myself. I’ve been doing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-osborne/it-s-just-that-i-m-wanting-to-start-dating-myself-i-saw-gina-s-eyes/) [Stephen Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-osborne/) > [“several complaints that night, ranging from people thinking cats were fighting to one soul who thought that a neighbor was playing a Yoko Ono…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-osborne/several-complaints-that-night-ranging-from-people-thinking-cats-were/) [Stephen Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-osborne/) > [“I’d never thrown myself through a window before, but I knew what to do in theory. The answer is: don’t do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-osborne/i-d-never-thrown-myself-through-a-window-before-but-i-knew-what-to-do/) [Stephen Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-osborne/) [Explore all 19 Stephen Osborne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-osborne/) ## More Said Small quotes > [“All right, here comes the philosophy. You can leave if you like but I suggest you stick it out. You don’t measure your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-cotterill/all-right-here-comes-the-philosophy-you-can-leave-if-you-like-but-i/) [Colin Cotterill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-cotterill/) > [People said I was too small, too this, too that, too pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-taylor/people-said-i-was-too-small-too-this-too-that-too-pretty/) [Jason Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-taylor/) > [“I'd say she is nothing short of a miracle, son." "I already knew that," I said, a small smile touching my lips.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fisher-amelie/i-d-say-she-is-nothing-short-of-a-miracle-son-i-already-knew-that-i/) [Fisher Amelie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fisher-amelie/) > [Oh Darling! when you said you had a small gift for me, I thought you were going to unzip your pants again ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manish-bhagtani/oh-darling-when-you-said-you-had-a-small-gift-for-me-i-thought-you/) [Manish Bhagtani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manish-bhagtani/) > [“He shrugged . ‘That’s part of the game. Excess is an escape for me, a defence against old ghosts and what seems at times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-gibbs/he-shrugged-that-s-part-of-the-game-excess-is-an-escape-for-me-a/) [C.C. Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-gibbs/) > [“The tiny princess glanced up with a shy smile. “Boyth, all,” she said, in a small, lisping voice. Morgan’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/the-tiny-princess-glanced-up-with-a-shy-smile-boyth-all-she-said-in-a/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Thanks," I said after a small stretch of silence, "for not giving up on me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/thanks-i-said-after-a-small-stretch-of-silence-for-not-giving-up-on-me/) [Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/) > [“It is hard, but I have faith in him,” Dragos said. “He may be small, but he’s already proven that he has a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-harrison/it-is-hard-but-i-have-faith-in-him-dragos-said-he-may-be-small-but-he/) [Thea Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-harrison/) > [“There's something to be said for small victories when they're made out of chocolate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-bailey/there-s-something-to-be-said-for-small-victories-when-they-re-made/) [Tessa Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-bailey/) > [I heard it all the time, but I never looked at it that way. People that said I was too small were the ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-gilmour/i-heard-it-all-the-time-but-i-never-looked-at-it-that-way-people-that/) Doug Gilmour > [It is, Sir, as I have said, a small College, And yet, there are those who love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/it-is-sir-as-i-have-said-a-small-college-and-yet-there-are-those-who/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [“Darling" she said with a small laugh "Love doesn’t have anything to do with this." "It has very thing to do with it!" I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/darling-she-said-with-a-small-laugh-love-doesn-t-have-anything-to-do/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“Not Slytherin, eh? said the small voice. Are you sure? You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/not-slytherin-eh-said-the-small-voice-are-you-sure-you-could-be-great/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“She, however, stood and said nothing. / Small, unnoticed, she stood in the crowd, listened, and said / nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrud-kolmar/she-however-stood-and-said-nothing-small-unnoticed-she-stood-in-the/) [Gertrud Kolmar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrud-kolmar/) > [“Still in that remarkable hushed voice, he said, "I'm small, I'm young--and I'm so different. You've always respected that difference, and you've always trusted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/still-in-that-remarkable-hushed-voice-he-said-i-m-small-i-m-young-and/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) Browse all 18 Said Small quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I smiled. “Nick, this is my dead boyfriend, Robbie. If you can’t see him, at least you’ll be able to see the salt carton hanging in mid-air. My dog is a zombie, and I’ve got a friend that’s a witch.” “Oh,” he said in a very small voice. I nodded. “That’s pretty much what I asked you over to tell you. 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