The heavy motor lube wouldn’t come off the metal.

It smeared into a dark gray film that grayed the paper and left a thick ring around my thumb.

“Is it coming off yet, Mom?” Noah asked.

“It’s staying put,” I said.

I carried five pennies to the sink and turned the cold tap all the way on.

The water beaded on the greasy metal and ran straight off into the drain without washing away one speck of dirt.

Noah came over and peered down into the stainless steel basin.