Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

Act 1 Scene 2

"Okay, Jack, what's actually wrong?" Racetrack asked, an attempt to comfort, "what's making you so sad? Your hours so long? Is it the strike?"

Jack shrugged, moving away and walking into the newsboy lodge. "No, it ain't no strike. It's that I've nothing to pass the time."

"In love?" Racetrack asked suddenly, following Jack closely, David at their heels.

"Jack, you're in love? Is it Kath-" David questioned, eyes wide.

"More like out." Jack sighed, lying in a bed.

David sat on the bed, at Jack's feet. "Of love?"

Racetrack sat down on the floor, his head against David's legs. "Alas, love looks nice, but is actually the worst!"

"I am in love with her! But she does not love me." Jack groaned, sighing. "Loves view in muffled, but I am still in its will. Here we be, what fray be here against the Delancey's, the bulls. The strike is much to do with hate, but also love. O brawling love, o loving hate!" Jack took a breath and turned towards David. "Love is everything except what it is! This is the love I feel. But no one loves me back."

Racetrack started to laugh, loudly, rolling his eyes at Jacks words. "Oh, my God."

"Dost thou not laugh?" Jack pouted, sitting up.

"No, I'm obviously crying." Racetrack joked, earning a slight kick from Jack.

"I'm serious, cousin, the woman I love is beautiful." Jack cried out. "Fair Katherine dost live a life shielded by the armor of chastity."

"She hath sworn that she will live chaste?" David questioned, a tilt to his head.

"I am destroyed. For her beauty is now wasted." Jack whined.

"My advice?" Racetrack piped up, "don't think about her."

"Oh, teach me how I should forget to think!" Jack rolled his eyes.

Racetrack laughed, "by giving liberty unto thine eyes! Look at different beautiful girls, there are plenty in New York."

Jack opened his mouth, about to make some sort of excuse. He wanted so badly to argue against Racetrack. There was no one in all the city as beautiful as Katherine. To look at other girls would only make him think of how much more beautiful his love, Katherine, is. There was no way Racetrack could teach him to forget.

"You can forget about her, Jack!" Racetrack exclaimed, "I'll show you that or die in debt to that lesson."

David rose an eyebrow, wanting to warn, "I wouldn't make any absent-minded promises. For thy has nothing to lose but everything to give. If you fail-"

"Shut up, David."