p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Helvetica; -webkit-text-stroke-color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"I pick up my pace as I head toward my truck. When I get there, I scurry up and pull a lever on the truck's side. Slowly, the back begins to come down. It may sound a little rude to you, but, it's nothing for a broken-down old truck that makes a comfortable and stylish robot residence for me. Of course, my family lived in those other trucks not far away from mine. Here, everyone sticks to their own truck. Anyway, I speed up the ramp and into the trailer. Home! And boy, it's good to be home! I turn on my Christmas lights. Pretty, huh? I start humming to myself as I settle down. I must have a serious case of ear worm because I can never get that song out of my head. I peel my new rubber treads from my wheels. It sounds kind of gross, but, I'll put them on in the morning before returning to work. Right now, it's time to relax. I put my new finds away (including the hubcap in my compactor) and turn on my "Hello, Dolly," video. It's my prized possession because it's the only thing I managed to save from my parents, so, I've kept it safe for the 700 years I've been grounded. That's why I always play it when I arrive home. While the movie is playing, I head to my little desk. It's a rickety old thing, but, at least it can take my weight. I lost track of how heavy I am. I use this desk to write my lines. When I got grounded, my parents told me that I would have to write my lines (which is "I will not disobey my parents") 519, 462 times, then, I wouldn't be grounded anymore. But, I've only written them 700 times so far. I have lots more writing to do before my punishment can be over. I get to work. But, I stop writing when I hear different music coming from the video. I stop writing and get up off my desk to take a look. I pause in front of the television set, waiting for the next part. When it comes, I hit the record button and move closer, my large eyes gazing tenderly at the screen. I can see that the actors are not singing and dancing to the song I've been humming all day. They're walking together and looking into each other's eyes. Then, they take each other's hands. I interlock my own 2 robotic hands and for a moment, I feel lonely. When the movie is over, I go back to work on my lines. While I work, I press the play button on my chest and listen to the song again. Although I'm not programmed to understand romance, it's romance that pulses through my circuits. It's the same strange impulse that makes me feel badly. It makes me feel sorry for falling asleep on the couch. That's why I got grounded. It makes me wish for someone to share my world. My hand suddenly hurts from holding the pencil for so long. I've got a claw cramp! Looking for my cockroach, I make a robotic noise (like a whistle) to call for him. (I don't use a phone). He hops in just as the storm hits with both master (that's me) and pet (that's Hal) safe inside our little home. I have just enough hand strength to unwrap a sponge cake for Hal. Not only does he like to eat them, but, it also makes a comfy cockroach bed for him. I close into my box shape and back into an empty shelf. Rocking the shelf back and forth like a cradle (I never act my age), I close my eyes and shut down for the night. Outside, I can hear the full force of the storm raging across the terrain. /p