It was a funny realization. Waiting on the platform for the subway was uncomfortably warm. Looking about, I could see various degrees of personal melting. The train arrived and upon boarding, I stuck my arm out with flat hand open to grab onto the pole before the train jerked forward. No space for my hand. It was piled high with everyone else’s around me. It looked like a baseball bat before a little league game. I looked up at the overhead railing, which was off to the left, and out of my reach, but not out of reach of others. It was empty. Clearly enough space for everyone to my left. I stood there a second longer, taking this in, and then I took it in. The stench of body odor. Clearly no one wanted to raise their arm, exposing themselves to being identified as the source of the wafting scent. Everybody was grasping low on the pole, keeping their elbows in. I understood, but in fact it wasn’t helping, most of them were warm beyond what their personal hygiene could muster to cover.