INTOXICATING

They were first lured by the distorted form; but as they drew near, there was an odd odor. The smell of something nutty, familiar, yet foreign. It smelled like mother’s kitchen, but more insidious. No, it was father’s garage- it was the smell of those permanent grey smears on the driveway. It was the sweet smell of gasoline that children deeply inhale while their parent pumps gas. It was the antifreeze that dogs lap up like ice cream. It is quite literally an intoxicating smell. It filled your lungs with warmth, and your brain with newly formed voids. It was dangerous- those of us who grew-up in the 80s knew the “puffers”: an odd race that were too old to still like at home, but to dumb to ever leave. But there in lies the excitement… maybe just a little whiff… a poke.