Eighteen

Two years ago I hated you.
We saw each other at work now and then but I stayed away.
Our schedules were different;
We worked with others.
I made friends with Thirty-Five and Thirty-Three.
You had a few friends of your own.
Your younger brother, Nineteen, helped train me.
I didn't like him.
I didn't like you either.

Last year I hated you.
The schedule changed.
Now I had to work with you part time.
My grudging partner.
My adversary.
I believed you disliked me as much as I disliked you.
Assigned together like a bad buddy cop movie,
Only my work vehicle wasn't cool.
I found out why you had friends.
You played music loud.
You ran faster than others.
But you were clumsy.
You were thirsty, and fussy, and shabby.
Embarrassing to be around.
But you never quit.
Well, there was that one time --
You almost blew up in my face.
But we got back just in time.
Cooler heads prevailed.

Last month I hated you.
You were grumbly, frustrating.
Didn't want to start work in the morning.
I'm not a morning person either.
All I wanted was to get finished,
And get away from you.
Any excuse to work with Thirty-Six on busy days.
Stronger, younger, taller.
More fun to be around.

Last week I hated you.
Then I heard you were going away.
Moving on.
I think you knew it.
Your window motor worked a little better than usual.
Your dash fan stopped making noise.
You rode pretty smooth.
Hell, even your sliding door shut better.
What got into you?
Why are we getting along just now?
Yeah, I don't like the new guy either.
Thirty-Eight has no character.

Eighteen...
I no longer hate you.
You magnificent bastard.
I'll miss you.