Smells like Teen Spirit

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Yesterday we went to the local theatre to see a school production of West Side Story, which eldest's oldest friend was in. It's a very brave choice of thing to do for a school as much of the music is difficult, and it was, on the whole, pretty good. The orchestra were valiant and mostly accurate; Maria was gorgeous with a lovely soprano voice, Anita was a star, A-rab was brilliant in Officer Krupke, and Glad Hand more than made the most of her tiny part.

But the smell. As most of the audience were teenagers, the theatre reeked of scent; body spray; aftershave... it was like walking into a vandalised chemist's shop. The scent virtually stood in the air. When I was getting ready I did briefly contemplate putting on a bit of scent (which is the difference between middle-aged me and a teenager; I think about whether to put the stuff on or not; they turn the nozzle to full and keep going) but it was just as well I didn't. When we got out of the theatre into the clean, fresh Wellingborough air, I could smell someone's scent, and soon realised it was me. Someone had put so much on it had obviously migrated onto me. And the thing is, I rather liked it....

Comments

sally said…
oh how true the "smells " of teenage boys. Competition is tough in the confines of the hallway of a morning - each body spray jostling for position- still these days at least it briefly masks the smell of wet labrador ( some feat!) - but not quite the effect the boys or the advertisers were after I'm sure!
29 June 2007 at 16:02
Jane Badger said…
I think there probably is a market for a body spray with a hint of dog - Chien Sauvage perhaps, or Chien de la Boue, or even La Boue en Fete. Then we wouldn't have to waste so much time washing the dogs...
30 June 2007 at 09:38
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