Stepping Through Lives

Van stepped out into the sunlight, and squinted at the light. She
slipped on a pair of mirror sunglasses and smiled. Her adventure had
finally begun.

She strode down the boardwalk(?), her black boots clicking lightly.
A slight breeze blew, twirling the blonde strands that found their way
out of a messy bun at the back of her head. A soft tinkle could be
heard every now and again as she walked. She reached up and tucked the
dog-tags into her shirt to silence them.

A petite woman jogged past "Chào bu?i sáng " Van called out in
greeting, the woman smiled and responded in kind as she continued on.

Van looked around mentally snapping pictures of this place as she
walked. It was unlike anywhere she'd ever been before. Granted, she
hadn't done that much traveling in her life before, especially outside
the country. Still, it was like a whole new world and she loved that.

A colorful bird called loudly somewhere in the treetops far above.
Van tilted her head back and gazed up at the dense canopy, but quickly
snapped back to the reality as her watch beeped the hour. Her eyes
widened slightly, she'd set it four minutes ahead since she always
seemed to be just a fraction late.

Forgetting the bird, she turned and ran quickly the rest of the
way. Her dog-tags tumbled out of the neckline as she ran. The clinking
of the tags and the clacking of her boots as they slapped the ground
gave her less the image of a well-trained, well-groomed officer and
more the appearance of a child late for class.

And late, was just what Van did *not* want to be. She soon reached
a high wire fence and was stopped by a soldier. After identifying
herself, she entered and made her way quite briskly to a building on
the right. Before, entering, she quickly smoothed her clothes, making
sure everything was in order; she went to check in, with two minutes
to spare. Van smiled and walked in.
****************************************************** A/N: chào (bu?i sáng) - is what I got from a translation site chao: good and buoi sang: morning, I may just leave it as buoi sang. It is supposed to be Vietnamese

Liese nervously tucked a short blonde strand of hair behind her ear. It was her first time to actually have a class all on her own. Of course, the real teacher would be in the back observing, and giving helpful hints if absolutely necessary, but Liese was still nervous.

She entered the room and sat down at a large wooden desk. Then, she began to get everything in order. A mug of cold water at the left corner, her lesson plan front and center (well, mostly center, actually), a black and a red pen right above that, her books stacked neatly in order to the right, and the small blue rubber ruler that was the hall pass to the left. Liese smiled, everything was looking good.

She had hoped to become a second grade teacher at her old grade school. She loved working with young children, and being a part of readying them for their First Communion seemed all the more special to her. At this time, however, she was student teaching for a sixth grade class.

The bell rang and students began to file in, Liese took a calming breath. As the second bell rang, she stood up to address the class.

"Good morning, my name is Mrs. O'Cuolihan and I will be your teacher for the next few weeks." She felt a little odd, saying her name she'd already been married for three months, yet it all still seemed so wonderfully surreal. Liese was cut off from further explanations as the PA system beeped to begin the morning pledge, prayer, and announcements.

"How about another song? We've sung that one twice before, do you like any others?" Anna smiled gently at her client. The elderly man paused to think.

"Can't think of any." He rasped softly. Anna placed her hand on his shoulder in a friendly manner and offered him two choices. After choosing "If You're Happy and You Know It," he took Anna's offered egg shaker and began to shake as she directed several different motions.

Anna had received her certification as a music therapist two months ago. Now she was working spasmodically, bouncing back and forth between the nursing home and two high schools until she could set up her own practice.

This was her first session of the day. She would have been late, but her boy friend had tricked her, setting her clock five minutes ahead when she wasn't looking. He'd even left a clean pants suit out for her. She smiled as she put her long blonde hair in a messy bun, he knew her too well.

After the song was over, she got out her guitar. Viktor loved the sound of the acoustic guitar and responded very well when it was used to accompany sing along songs. Soon, Anna was strumming softly as she and Viktor sang a lusty chorus of 'Take Me Out To the Ball Game." Three strikes your out, at the old ball game.

***********************************************************

*BEEP* BEEP*BEEP*

A hand snaked out from the depths of a loud, tie-dye comforter. "Shut Up!" Vi's disembodied voice shouted as the hand slapped at the hellish instrument commonly known as an alarm clock. Finally achieving it's goal as the room was plunged into blissful silence it snaked back under the comforter. The see of fabric shifted as Vi began a full body stretch accompanied by a gaping yawn.

Suddenly, Vi jerked upright, she had just remembered why the alarm had been set in the first place! Two years with a 'career' of lifeguarding and part time waitressing and she'd finally landed a real part! Ok, so it wasn't any Juliet or even a Benvolio part, but she got paid and she was going to be in a movie! A real live, well not live, but an actual non- independent movie with people she'd actually heard of.

She quickly got up and ran, practically crashing into the bathroom. She turned the shower on and stepped timidly in as the water warmed. She let the water course down her face, washing away the last vestiges of sleep.

Vi faced the mirror, quickly running comb her short purple hair. She pinned back a bit of her longer bangs on the left side of her face. Then she put in her earrings. She looked at her jeans and loud orange-pink. They had a costume for her, but she still wanted to look nice. She had twelve whole lines to say before her tragic (yet unimportant) death.

Two long arms encircled around Angel's waist. Angel smiled and turned her head back to kiss her husband. He kissed her back, the tang of the orange he'd had for breakfast invaded Angel's mouth, making her hungry for more.

A strange mix between a gurgle and a giggle interrupted them. They both turned to see their two-month-old son being utterly fascinated with his left hand. Angel smiled as Bran picked up Shane and immediately began tickling him, bringing fourth a () of soft baby laughter.

She unconsciously tucked a long strand of red streaked hair behind her ear, where it joined a myriad of other colors. The natural blonde was canvas to a strange gathering of red, blue, purple, and yellow. A small, tight braid of green was held back by her left ear. On Angel, it all seemed to fit though, blending beautifully to emphasize her bright, eclectic personality.

A clipboard lay on her lap. Angel ran her finger down, checking and double- checking the list. Satisfied, she made a note and put it back into the desk drawer.

"Well, love, the band has been confirmed for the second set Friday. We still have practice for the first set. We need more cherry coke and we're running low on chips, tell my mom when you drop Shane off, k?" She picked up a book bag to leave; she kissed Bran once more as she headed to the door.

"Hope you're class behaves this time. See you later, love." Shane, still in his father's hands, waved bye-bye to her as Bran spoke.

Nineteen-year-old Vangeliese King watched all of these morning scenes.

"I'm still not sure." She frowned, tucking a strand of short blonde hair behind her ear irritated.

"More, I need to see more."

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A/N: End chapter one, I'll have about three, a few intermittent years, just to taste what is fully there, especially since van still has to see what happens after her six contract years as an interpreter. Ok, work in progress, naturally. Not exactly the most fascinating story, unless you're Vangeliese, but I'm just practicing my writing and stuff. Any helpful hints would , helpful. Thanks : )