“We are cleaning up our stuff,” Meshach, the tile layer who now more or less permanently resides in our home, informed me. “We are giving you more space.”

“More space!” I said in mock amazement. “Why would I need more space? I see at least 3 square feet over there by the closet and another 4 feet behind the dining room table!”

Meshach squinted his eyes and looked at me seriously, as he does. He was …