My favorite neighborhood urchin is now old enough that a day’s hard playing leaves him as fragrant as used gerbil bedding. It’s really quite amazing how far the scent carries.
Feet. Yards. Blocks, even.
I wondered whether subtly suggesting a little soap, water and deodorant would crucify his fragile preteen psyche. As I gather courage and search desperately for a delicate way to put this, his best friend screeches up beside us.
“Geeeezo,” she shrieks, pinching her nostrils shut, “You stink like old ZOMBIE puke.”
The boy raises an arm, sniffs his armpit, then bows his head. I anxiously search my limited store of child psychology for something to restore his shattered self-esteem.
“PIT WARS!!!!!” he roars, whipping off his t-shirt and raising his arms high. The girl shrieks and dodges, he pounds down the street after her. Fifteen minutes later they return with the neighborhood gang, shirts off and arms raised. Clearly, the pit wars are escalating.
I can see it’s going to be a fragrant summer.
my wife used to teach 7th and 8th graders (30 years at it) and i used to chaperon school dances. you could almost get a contact high from the pheromones.
This is why The Dot refuses to teach any grade higher than 4th. Nothing like a room full of in the middle of puberty 5th and 6th graders to put you off your feed!
having raised two kids I can tell you that at this time in their lives it really doesn’t matter how often they bathe or how much deodorant they use. fortunately, it passes.
thanks for the big smile this am.