The Tragedy of Living

01

July 14, 1943

"Elsie!" Howard called as he carted wheels to the back of the stage. "Be a doll and help me with these?"

Elsie smiled tightly. "Howard, you call me doll again and I'm gonna hit you so hard you have a black eye for your Expo tonight. I'll help you and then I need to pick up my uniform."

"So you are going to Lehigh."

"I told you I was two weeks ago. You thought I wasn't serious?"

"Part of me hoped you wouldn't actually go. Careful, two of these tires probably weigh about your height."

"Why do you have extra tires anyway?"

"You can never be too prepared."

"I'd like to offer up a bet against that."

"Elsie, a little help?"

She helped him set the tires down and grabbed her bag. "I'll see you soon, Howie. Don't get into too much trouble."

"You crack me up. Get a move on."

Elsie saluted him and walked away.

She made her way to a nearby dry cleaning store and picked up her SSR uniform. As she was making her way back toward the venue where the Expo was being held, she heard grunts and fists coming in contact with someone in a nearby alley.

Picking up her pace, she went to see what the commotion was about.

Steve tried punching the guy from the movie theater, but kept getting knocked down.

Elsie appeared and went to hit the guy who said, "This isn't your fight, sweetheart."

She gave him a right hook and said, "Don't call me sweetheart. Didn't your mother tell you pick on folks your own size?"

"This punk kept arguing with me, told me to shut up."

"So you think that justifies your right to hit him?"

Steve picked up the top to a trashcan and the guy said, "You two just don't know when to give up, do you?"

"I could do this all day," Steve challenged, balling his fists.

Elsie held her bag as a weapon, ready to use it if she needed to.

The guy knocked the bag and hit her, causing her to stumble back.

Elsie cracked her neck. "Hitting a girl. Nice one."

A young brunet man in uniform walked up to the fight and said, "Hey! Pick on someone your own size! Never hit a lady!" He punched the attacker, then kicked the man as he ran away.

Bucky looked back at Steve. "Sometimes I think you like getting punched. Who's the dame?"

"I had him on the ropes," Steve replied. "No idea."

Elsie smiled and held out her hand. "Elsie Stark. Pleasure to meet you."

"Stark? As in Howard Stark? I'm Steve Rogers."

"He's my brother. It's nice to meet you, Steve."

Bucky smirked lightly. "Pleasure to meet you as well, Miss Stark."

Her gaze never left Steve as she replied, "Likewise."

Bucky picked up Steve's enlistment form from the ground. "How many times is this?" He read from the enlistment form. "Oh, you're from Paramus now? You know it's illegal to lie on the enlistment form. And seriously, Jersey?"

Steve ignored Bucky's words and asked, "You get your orders?"

"The 107th. Sergeant James Barnes. Shipping out for England first thing tomorrow. "

"I should be going."

"Come on, man. My last night! Gotta get you cleaned up."

"Why? Where are we going?" Steve wondered.

"The future." He handed Steve a newspaper. Steve opened the paper to see an ad for World Exposition Of Tomorrow, 1943.

Elsie picked up her stuff and winked. "I'll see you boys there."

She made her way back to the venue and Howard rushed up to her. "There you are! I was worried something had happened to-" He noticed her busted lip. "What happened?"

"I defended someone getting pummeled in an alley."

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You can't keep doing this. One of these days you'll either be seriously injured, jailed, or killed. And I don't want either!"

"Howard, I appreciate the concern, but I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."

"I know you can, but that doesn't mean you should go looking for trouble!"

"I didn't! Sort of didn't. I was passing near an alley and heard fighting. Went to see what was happening and saw a guy who couldn't have been taller than 5'4 and less than 100 pounds being beaten. I'm sorry for coming to his defense, but I couldn't let it slide."

"You don't have to apologize to me, Elsie. Or explain anything. You're a regular vigilante, coming to the defense of the weaker man, or woman, whether I like it or not. He's okay though?"

"Yeah, he'll be fine. I'm going to get ready."

"Don't be too long. We still have to finish setting up."

"What were you doing while I was gone?"

"Testing technology and making sure things were working and set as they should be."

"Uh-huh. Back in a flash, Howie."

"Stop calling me that."

Elsie smirked lightly and made her way to a dressing room to change.

As she put on a black dress, complete with s flowing skirt, she thought of the skinny boy, Steve, that she had rescued and a smile came to her face. How she already hoped she'd see him again. And if they came to the Expo, it'd be twice in one day.

What was it? Three is a fated lucky number. And tonight could possibly make two encounters.

She quickly brushed the thought away and touched up her lipstick, then smiled in the mirror.

"Let's put on a show for the ages," she said.