In this scene, the narrator steps out of the car and is immediately overwhelmed by a strong, unpleasant smell of body odor. Despite Cricket standing nearby and speaking, the narrator is somehow unable to hear him, feeling distracted by the intense scent.
I get out of the car, and I'm blasted by the stench of body odor. Cricket is beside me, and he's talking, but his words don't reach my ears. Because it's my mother. Smelling. On my porch.