He picked up a yellow sponge from the plastic caddy.

He turned on the hot water and squeezed green dish soap right onto the sponge.

Thomas scrubbed the empty sink in slow, careful circles.

He rinsed the sponge and started wiping down the counters, working his way carefully around the toaster and the coffee maker.

The kitchen smelled strongly of lemon soap and wet suds.

“The counters are clean,” I said.

“I wiped them down this morning.”