Behind Blue Eyes

02

WORLD EXPOSITION OF TOMORROW

"I don't see what the problem is," Bucky said. "You thankfully not 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, taking Essie's hand.

"Good thing I took care of that."

Bucky waved to the dates, Connie and Bonnie, he'd lined up and glanced at Steve. "They wanted to come together."

"Hey, Bucky!" Connie greeted, smiling at Essie. "You're so pretty!"

Essie smiled. "Thank you. So are you."

"What did you tell her about me?" Steve asked.

"Only the good stuff. And that you'd be coming with your wife."

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!"

Essie gripped Steve's hand tightly as she watched the stage with a grin.

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

Howard entered the stage and kissed the announcer.

A woman yelled, "I love you, Howard!"

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.

"Oh my goodness," Essie whispered.

The robots making the car hover suddenly malfunctioned and the car fell back on stage.

Steve's hand fell from Essie's and she silently asked if he was okay and he nodded.

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

Steve disappeared, and Bucky and Essie noticed.

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

Essie let out a sigh. "Come on. I bet you he's trying to enlist yet again."

Bucky nodded. "You're probably right. Let's go."

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

"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."

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