I Hope She Doesn't Have to Leave the Key in the Door and Abandon Her House

My niece bought a house. She's a teacher of tiny little kindergarten people, with a year-old daughter and a working-man husband. They gave up their apartment lease to move in last summer, but some work had to be done before the new house would pass inspection. So they moved in with my sister the ex-mayor's wife for a couple of months until it was completed. They're still getting everything completely stowed away now that they're in it. Sis had a story the other day when I stopped by.

Sis had gone over to visit. She was helping put some playthings away in the room designated as the toy room. She wrinkled up her nose. Something didn't smell quite right. She didn't want to say anything. It was only that one room. But she couldn't help herself.

Sis: "Is it just me, or does this room smell funny?"

Niecy: "It's not you. There's an odor."

Sis: "It's only this one room. What is it? Paint? Some kind of chemical? It's kind of strong. Maybe you shouldn't let her play in here until you get this cleared up."

Niecy: "We've tried everything. Glade. Stick-ups. Febreeze. Nothing works."

Nephew-In-Law: "I know what is it. It just started smelling when we moved her toys in. The toys that had been stored at my grandma and grandpa's house. It's BO. That smell is body odor from my grandpa. He won't wear deodorant. He never has. He says his people never wore it when he was growing up, and he doesn't see any reason to wear it now. Sometimes Grandma tries to put it on his armpits while he's asleep, but he wakes up. I'm sure that's what this smell is. It really stinks. We can't get rid of it."

Not a valet stinking up a car. A grandpa stinking up the toy room. You can't exactly wash a house with tomato juice. I hope Niecy doesn't have to leave the key in the lock and abandon her house.