Remember when I told you about subbing PE?

I left something out.

Yes, it was crazy, yes, it was like watching a country's citizens revolt against a cruel dictator and his cronies, yes, it involved me thinking that all I had to do was survive in order to consider myself a good substitute teacher for the day.

And it also involved the smell.

Not just the smell of teenage boys running and sweating.  That was not pleasant, but it also wasn't something I had to deal with a lot.  The boys weren't near me very often or for very long. 

The smell of teenage boys attempting to attract teenage girls.

I would now like to offer a financial tip.  Invest in AXE body spray stock.  High school boys are spending so much on that stuff that there's no way this could be a loss.  I wouldn't be surprised if you could cash in a mere three shares after a year and have enough to buy an excessively fancy yacht.

While attempting to find all of the boys after PE, I stepped onto the landing above the locker room and instantly regretted it.  I smelled every single AXE body spray scent all at one.  Every single one.  Each boy's personal choice had combined in a sort of toxic cloud and floated out of the locker room.  What's it smell like, you ask?  Like a chemical burn.  And a bottle of Brut cologne that's been lit on fire.  And spilled beer.  And Old Spice.  Just a lot of things that essentially make your eyes water.

I started to cough then left the landing immediately.  I asked one boy of they all wore AXE and cologne and he said, "Yep!" quite enthusiastically.  One boy even came up to me and shouted "Smell me Ms. Brady, smell me!  Don't I smell good?!" while wafting his personal scent towards me.  Clearly these boys have no clue as to what fragrance moderation is.

The good news?  At least they're attentive to personal hygiene.  That's something that benefits everyone, even if they do go a little bit overboard.