Noah sat on the top wooden step with his sneakers laced tight, tugging at his socks, while Lily hauled the garden hose around the side of the garage.

“The hose water’s freezing, Mom,” Lily said, swinging her feet off the edge of the step as she held the nozzle over the tub.

“We only need enough to cover the bottom of the tub,” I said.

I poured in half the yellow jug of soap.

The green foam rose thick and smelled of pine needles and heavy lube oil.

I dipped a dented red plastic cup into the nearest burlap sack and tipped fifty dark pennies into the sudsy water.