The Tragedy of Living

02

WORLD EXPOSITION OF TOMORROW

"I don't see what the problem is," Bucky said. "You're about to be the last eligible man in New York. You know, there's three and a half million women here."

"Well, I'd settle for just one," Steve replied.

"Good thing I took care of that."

Bucky waved to the dates, Connie and Bonnie, he'd lined up and glanced at Steve.

"Hey, Bucky!" Connie greeted.

"What did you tell her about me?" Steve asked, looking around for Elsie.

"Only the good stuff."

Music played and the expo announcer said, "Welcome to the Modern Marvels Pavilion and the World of Tomorrow. A greater world. A better world."

"Oh, my God!" Connie cried. "It's starting!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Howard Stark and Miss Elsie Stark!" Mandy introduced.

Howard and Elsie entered the stage and the former kissed the announcer.

A woman yelled, "I love you, Howard! Elsie, you're so pretty!"

Howard addressed the audience at the World Exposition fair. "Ladies and gentlemen, what if I told you that in just a few short years, your automobile won't even have to touch the ground at all." The female assistants took the wheels off the car on stage. "Yes. Thanks, Mandy." He addressed the audience again. "With Stark robotic reversion technology, you'll be able to do just that."

Howard turned on the switch of his machine and the car started to hover off the ground.

"Holy cow," Bucky muttered.

The robots making the car hover suddenly malfunctioned and the car fell back on stage. Elsie jumped back with a gasp.

"I did say a few years, didn't I?" Howard said, causing everyone to laugh.

Elsie caught sight of Steve and motioned to her brother that she'd be back.

Steve disappeared, and Bucky noticed.

"Hey, Steve, what do you say we treat these girls..." Bucky began.

RECRUITMENT CENTER

A woman said to her male company, pulling him away from a mirror making him look like a soldier, "Come on, soldier."

Steve stepped in front of the mirror but was too short to fill out the face.

"Come on," Bucky said. "You're kind of missing the point of a double date. We're taking the girls dancing."

"You go ahead," Steve told him. "I'll catch up with you."

"You're really gonna do this again?"

"Well, it's a fair. I'm gonna try my luck."

"As who? Steve from Ohio? They'll catch you. Or worse, they'll actually take you."

"Look, I know you don't think I can do this."

Elsie frowned. "This isn't a back alley, Steve. It's war."

"I know it's a war. You don't have to tell me."

"Why are you so keen to fight?" Bucky asked. "There are so many important jobs."

"What am I gonna do? Collect scrap metal..."

"Yes!"

"...in my little red wagon."

"Why not?"

"I'm not gonna sit in a factory, Bucky."

"I don't..."

"Bucky, come on! There are men laying down their lives. I got no right to do any less than them. That's what you don't understand. This isn't about me."

"Right. 'Cause you got nothing to prove."

"Hey, Sarge!" Connie called. "Are we going dancing?"

Bucky turned to the girls. "Yes, we are." He turned back to Steve. "Don't do anything stupid until I get back."

"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you," Steve shot back.

"You're a punk." He walked toward Steve and hugged him goodbye.

"Jerk. Be careful." As Bucky walked away, he added, "Don't win the war till I get there!"

Bucky saluted, then started to walk away. "Come on, girls. They're playing our song."

Elsie sighed and shook her head. "War isn't something to be taken lightly. But if you want a way, I have a way."

"What way?" Steve asked.

She smiled slyly and led him to a medical room. "Wait here."

Steve sat in the medical room and waited.

A nurse whispered something inaudible to a young doctor.

The young doctor said to Steve, "Wait here."

"Is there a problem?" Steve questioned.

"Just wait here." He left.

Steve glanced at a warning sign against lying on your enlistment and began getting ready to leave. He'd have to have a talk with Elsie about trying to get him in trouble. He already did enough of that himself.

An Enlistment Office MP walked into the room and Steve stared at him worriedly.

Dr. Abraham Erskine and Elsie entered the room as the Enlistment Office MP quietly left.

Dr. Erskine said to the MP, "Thank you." He turned to Steve. "So, you want to go overseas. Kill some Nazis."

"Excuse me?" Steve asked.

"Dr. Abraham Erskine." He walked over and introduced himself to Steve. "I represent the Strategic Scientific Reserve. Clearly you've met Agent Stark."

"Steve Rogers. Agent?"

"She's one of our best."

Dr. Erskine began looking through Steve's file.

As he did so, Steve asked, "Where are you from?"

"Queens," Dr. Erskine replied. "73rd Street and Utopia Parkway. Before that, Germany. This troubles you?"

Steve shook his head. "No."

Dr. Erskine flipped through Steve's file. "Where are you from, Mr. Rogers? Mmm? Is it New Haven? Or Paramus? Five exams in five different cities."

"That might not be the right file."

"No, it's not the exams I'm interested in. It's the five tries. But you didn't answer my question. Do you want to kill Nazis?"

"Is this a test?"

"Yes."

"I don't wanna kill anyone. I don't like bullies. I don't care where they're from."

"Well, there are already so many big men fighting this war. Maybe what we need now is the little guy, huh? I can offer you a chance." They left the room. "Only a chance."

"I'll take it."

"Good. So where is the little guy from, actually?"

"Brooklyn."

Dr. Erskine stamped Steve's form and handed him back his file. "Congratulations, soldier."

Steve opened the file and saw that he'd been stamped with 1A. He had been accepted.

Elsie smiled as she gestured to Steve's file. "Congratulations, Steve. Now the real work begins."

"Elsie, thank you," Steve said.

She nodded. "The little guys deserve a chance, too. I'll see you at basic training, Steve. Get some rest. It's no easy feat."

Elsie walked away and Steve continued staring after her with a small smile.