---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Halfway through the meal, while we were…"
description: "\"“Halfway through the meal, while we were all laughing and telling stories, I made the mistake of placing my hand on Kaidan's upper thigh without thinki..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/wendy-higgins-2152_failure_halfway-through-the-meal-while-we-were-a_1616840.jpg"
---

#  Halfway through the meal, while we were all laughing and…

![“Halfway through the meal, while we were all laughing and telling stories, I made the mistake of placing my hand on Kaidan's upper thigh without thinking. He let out a groan loud enough to silence the room. I slipped my hand back into my own lap, and Kaidan cleared his throat. “Wow,” he said. “The…” quote by Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/wendy-higgins-2152_failure_halfway-through-the-meal-while-we-were-a_1616840.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/wendy-higgins-2152_failure_halfway-through-the-meal-while-we-were-a_1616840.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/wendy-higgins-2152_failure_halfway-through-the-meal-while-we-were-a_1616840.jpg)

> ““Halfway through the meal, while we were all laughing and telling stories, I made the mistake of placing my hand on Kaidan's upper thigh without thinking. He let out a groan loud enough to silence the room. I slipped my hand back into my own lap, and Kaidan cleared his throat. “Wow,” he said. “The corn pudding is fantastic.” I snorted, which started a round of snickers. Patti smiled at Kaidan like he was a precious boy. "Isn't it good? Anna found the recipe a few years ago. She's a great cook." "Mm-hm." Kaidan gave a tight-lipped smile. "That she is.””

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

An accidental touch leads to embarrassment, but the group redirects focus to food, highlighting social awkwardness.

**In simple terms:** A mistake causes embarrassment, but humor saves the moment.

Key Takeaway

Own mistakes and let humor defuse tension.

Themes

awkwardness humor social dynamics intimacy

Mood

embarrassed lighthearted

Type

narrative situational

When to use this quote

- dinner parties
- first dates
- team building
- social gatherings

Key Concepts

embarrassment communication group cohesion

Questions to Reflect On

- What cues signal when to apologize versus laugh it off?
- How do cultural norms shape reactions to accidental contact?

A Different Perspective

Humor may mask underlying discomfort.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Corn Pudding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corn-pudding-6164955/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Kaidan Gave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kaidan-gave-6164956/) [Kaidan-and-anna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kaidan-and-anna-99311/) [Meal Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meal-laughing-6164953/) [Pudding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pudding/) [Smiled Kaidan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiled-kaidan-6164954/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/)

## Related quotes

> [“At nearly three in the morning sleepiness weighted my body as we lay there together so still. I heard his breathing even out as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/at-nearly-three-in-the-morning-sleepiness-weighted-my-body-as-we-lay/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“My mother was an angel,” I blurted. “A guardian angel.” Kaidan began to chuckle. “What's so funny?” I asked. “You. You're a walking contradiction.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/my-mother-was-an-angel-i-blurted-a-guardian-angel-kaidan-began-to/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“Lunch started off tense after our heated moment. Thank goodness for Blake. Kai was warm toward him, reserving his coolness for me. I watched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sweet-peril-wendy-higgins/lunch-started-off-tense-after-our-heated-moment-thank-goodness-for/)

[Sweet Peril Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sweet-peril-wendy-higgins/)

> [If a recipe is good, I'm not going to mess with it, but they are recipes I've spent quite a bit of time getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/if-a-recipe-is-good-i-m-not-going-to-mess-with-it-but-they-are/)

[Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/)

> [It does not happen all at once. There is no instant pudding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/it-does-not-happen-all-at-once-there-is-no-instant-pudding/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

> [“I look like vanilla pudding so nobody knows that on the inside I am spider soup.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-portes/i-look-like-vanilla-pudding-so-nobody-knows-that-on-the-inside-i-am/)

[Andrea Portes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-portes/)

> [Fruits each in its season, are the cheapest, most elegant and wholesome dessert you can offer your family or friends, at luncheon or tea.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-virginia-terhune/fruits-each-in-its-season-are-the-cheapest-most-elegant-and-wholesome/)

[Mary Virginia Terhune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-virginia-terhune/)

> [I rather be divisive than boring. The last thing I want to be is a bowl of sugar free vanilla pudding, it's not something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-biersack/i-rather-be-divisive-than-boring-the-last-thing-i-want-to-be-is-a/)

[Andy Biersack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-biersack/)

> [It's hard to look too grand when you're led by someone who looks like a pudding with legs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-mckinley/it-s-hard-to-look-too-grand-when-you-re-led-by-someone-who-looks-like/)

[Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/)

> [I love a Yorkshire pudding. It's basically pancake batter that's fried in beef fat and puffs up; it's like you can't go wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samin-nosrat/i-love-a-yorkshire-pudding-it-s-basically-pancake-batter-that-s-fried/)

[Samin Nosrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samin-nosrat/)

> [“I tell my parents I'm going out for pudding. They think this might be a nickname for heroin.Mum makes the international face for 'is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-tell-my-parents-i-m-going-out-for-pudding-they-think-this-might-be/)

[Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/)

> [They say 'life is precious'. To who? To you, when you're young and you've got a few dollars in your pocket. Tell that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/they-say-life-is-precious-to-who-to-you-when-you-re-young-and-you-ve/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [“Speaking of pits in plum pudding, do you remember your sister’s first attempt? Your grandfather broke off his only remaining tooth trying to eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/speaking-of-pits-in-plum-pudding-do-you-remember-your-sister-s-first/)

[Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/)

> [I loathe people who say, 'I always read the ending of the book first.' That really irritates me, It's like someone coming to dinner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-loathe-people-who-say-i-always-read-the-ending-of-the-book-first/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Quotations can be valuable, like raisins in the rice pudding, for adding iron as well as eye appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peg-bracken/quotations-can-be-valuable-like-raisins-in-the-rice-pudding-for/)

[Peg Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peg-bracken/)

## More by Wendy Higgins

> [“I tried to warn you, But girls never listen. Got your innocence insured? ’Cause it’s ’bout to be stolen Right out from under your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/i-tried-to-warn-you-but-girls-never-listen-got-your-innocence-insured/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“I stole glances at Kaidan's bare skin while the others were busy talking. That's my boyfriend right there, I silently announced.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/i-stole-glances-at-kaidan-s-bare-skin-while-the-others-were-busy/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“Self-pity was like wearing a wool jacket in the sweltering heat, and I wanted it gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/self-pity-was-like-wearing-a-wool-jacket-in-the-sweltering-heat-and-i/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“Tequila, anyone?” he asked our group, but his eyes were on me. “Hell, yeah, K, break it out,” Blake said. I tried to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/tequila-anyone-he-asked-our-group-but-his-eyes-were-on-me-hell-yeah-k/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“Let me undress you. Not all the way...just as you were today at Blake's. Please. Let me see you again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/let-me-undress-you-not-all-the-way-just-as-you-were-today-at-blake-s/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“Supposedly Kaidan’s having a difficult time ’cause he can’t say swear words in every sentence,” Marna said with a smile. “He’s determined to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/supposedly-kaidan-s-having-a-difficult-time-cause-he-can-t-say-swear/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“How people’s passionate beliefs, often about similar things, just with different names, can drive such a fervent wedge between cultures.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/how-people-s-passionate-beliefs-often-about-similar-things-just-with/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“I'm going to marry you someday, Brooke.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/i-m-going-to-marry-you-someday-brooke/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“This is my friend Veronica,” I told him. “And this is Kaidan.” “Oh, I've heard all about you.” Veronica gave him a big smile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/this-is-my-friend-veronica-i-told-him-and-this-is-kaidan-oh-i-ve/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [ “Have you ever cheated on a girlfriend? Jay squinted at her. "No. I wouldn't." "You would." she \[Ginger\] corrected him. "Everyone cheats." "That's not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/have-you-ever-cheated-on-a-girlfriend-jay-squinted-at-her-no-i-wouldn/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“Well, I don’t know about you girls,” Patti called out, “but I’m starving. You wanna help me throw everything together before I go check…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/well-i-don-t-know-about-you-girls-patti-called-out-but-i-m-starving/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“I wondered what kind of sexy getup Kaidan would be wearing. Maybe Adam in a loincloth?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/i-wondered-what-kind-of-sexy-getup-kaidan-would-be-wearing-maybe-adam/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“I stood with my arms crossed, scanning the crowd. My eyes hated on a very tall gorilla looking in our direction. He bore a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/i-stood-with-my-arms-crossed-scanning-the-crowd-my-eyes-hated-on-a/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“Shoes. I needed to get on my tennis shoes. I scrambled through my things on the floor and found them, shoving my feet in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/shoes-i-needed-to-get-on-my-tennis-shoes-i-scrambled-through-my/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“He froze. “I . . .” Then, as he searched my face with wonder, he slid from his seat and down to one knee. “My sweet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/he-froze-i-then-as-he-searched-my-face-with-wonder-he-slid-from-his/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

[Explore all 180 Wendy Higgins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

## More Failure quotes

> [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/)

[Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/)

> [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/)

[Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/)

> [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/)

[Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/)

> [“Rhiannon's Law #28: If you're going to fuck up, be sure to fuck up good and proper. Nothing makes failure acceptable, so you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rhiannon-s-law-28-if-you-re-going-to-fuck-up-be-sure-to-fuck-up-good/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/)

[Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/)

> [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/)

[Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/)

> [First action was a mistake. What about the second? third? fourth and fifth?...Mehn you are bad...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-action-was-a-mistake-what-about-the-second-third-fourth-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/)

[Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/)

> [“Our failure to understand another being's inner reality doesn't make that reality any less real, or any less valuable to that being. (p.255)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-schulz/our-failure-to-understand-another-being-s-inner-reality-doesn-t-make/)

[Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-schulz/)

> [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/)

[Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/)

> [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/)

[Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/)

> [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/)

[Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/)

> [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/)

[Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/)

> [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 27,498 Failure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Halfway through the meal, while we were all laughing and telling stories, I made the mistake of placing my hand on Kaidan's upper thigh without thinking. He let out a groan loud enough to silence the room. I slipped my hand back into my own lap, and Kaidan cleared his throat. “Wow,” he said. “The corn pudding is fantastic.” I snorted, which started a round of snickers. Patti smiled at Kaidan like he was a precious boy. \"Isn't it good? Anna found the recipe a few years ago. She's a great cook.\" \"Mm-hm.\" Kaidan gave a tight-lipped smile. \"That she is.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Wendy Higgins"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/halfway-through-the-meal-while-we-were-all-laughing-and-telling/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Failure"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/halfway-through-the-meal-while-we-were-all-laughing-and-telling/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/wendy-higgins-2152_failure_halfway-through-the-meal-while-we-were-a_1616840.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/wendy-higgins-2152_failure_halfway-through-the-meal-while-we-were-a_1616840.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/wendy-higgins-2152_failure_halfway-through-the-meal-while-we-were-a_1616840.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Halfway through the meal, while we were all laughing and telling stories, I made the mistake of placing my…” — Wendy Higgins",
                "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": "Wendy Higgins",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Halfway through the meal, while we...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/halfway-through-the-meal-while-we-were-all-laughing-and-telling/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/halfway-through-the-meal-while-we-were-all-laughing-and-telling/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
