At four thirty we set up on the kitchen counter, three plastic tubs of warm water, one of them green with degreaser.

Irene ripped an old towel into squares.

Noah laid the toothbrushes out in a row like tools on a workbench.

“One scrub, one rinse, one dry,” Irene said.

“No shortcuts.

Shortcuts leave streaks.”

Lily took the drying towel and kicked her feet against the cabinet door.

We worked a while without talking.