Todd came home two hours later, and he was covered in dust, grime, and sweat. I had finished my laundry by then, and started his while he took a shower upstairs. I made us each a fried bologna sandwich with some potato chips, and we sat in the kitchen to eat. I had a coke and he had his usual root beer.

“She’s got so much junk,” he said. “I thought I’d never ge...