When the kids were in school and Mr. Diamonte safely in work, Mrs. Diamonte started cleaning the house.

She started with the garage. Then she went through the attic and fixed a hole under the eaves. Next was the cellar. When she was done, the dumpster was a quarter full.

Little by little she went through the rooms. The kitchen gave up dented pots and pans, four bags full of plastic containers, dried out sponges and broken spatulas and spoons. She also found half-empty bottles and boxes of four-year out-of-date cereals and lentils and rice.

Then she went through the bedrooms.