Crushing on a Capulet by Tony Abbott Page A

Romeo for breaking into the Capulet party last night and dancing with his cousin Juliet.”
    I wondered how mad Tybalt would be if he knew that Romeo was planning to marry his cousin Juliet?
    It was almost funny.
    But not quite.
    â€œTybalt is a master swordsman,” said Mercutio. “I wouldn’t want to tangle with him. If you see young Romeo before we do, tell him to see his father. He can give him the message.”
    Benvolio nodded. “Now come, Mercutio, let us leave this place. Devin, Frankie, be safe!”
    The two men slid off into a side street and were gone.
    â€œDevin, I feel very weird just now.”
    â€œTell me about it,” I said. “I think these tights are shrinking. My toes hurt way bad.”
    â€œNot that,” she said. “I feel weird because we have this huge secret and can’t tell anybody. I really don’t want to take sides in this thing.”
    â€œI know what you mean,” I said. “It’s strange how we’re totally in the middle. We’re like the only friends of both Romeo and Juliet. Anyway, come on. Let’s get this ladder to Juliet’s house. It must be getting late.”
    We wandered once more through the narrow streets until we found ourselves in front of the Capulet mansion. By the smell of it, it was about lunchtime. I’m pretty sure I smelled those meatballs Italy is so famous for.
    As we scurried around the back to the garden wall to test out the ladder, we found Juliet in her usual spot on the balcony. She looked like she was getting ready to do one of those long talking-to-herself speeches.
    When no one was looking, Frankie tossed the ladder over the outer wall. We climbed over the top and into the garden, then flung the ladder up on to the balcony.
    â€œOh! Frankie! Devin!” said Juliet. “The clock struck nine when I sent the nurse, and she’s not back yet!”
    Frankie pulled herself up to the balcony. “Maybe she got lost? We did.”
    â€œPlus she’s a slow walker,” I said, coming up after.
    â€œThe messengers of love should be swift!” said Juliet, “not lumbering like an old mule. From nine till noon is three long hours! What if she never comes? Oh, I shall die on my balcony waiting forever for her—”
    At that moment, the plodding steps of her nurse echoed up the inside stairs to her room. She came in huffing and puffing. “Oh, my, oh, dear—”
    â€œNurse!” cried Juliet, rushing to her. “What news do you bring?”
    â€œWell, I—”
    Juliet gasped. “You look sad. Is there sad news?”
    â€œNo, no …”
    â€œRomeo does not love me?”
    â€œIt’s not that.…”
    â€œHe is dead! Oh, my dear, dead Romeo—”
    â€œJuliet!” shouted the nurse. “I’m tired! It makes my bones ache!” She huffed and puffed some more.
    Juliet gave her a look. “I wish you had my bones and I had your news. Speak, good nurse, speak. Speak!”
    â€œI can’t speak!” she said. “I am too out of breath!”
    I laughed. “How can you say you’re out of breath when you have enough breath to say you’re out of breath?”
    The nurse gave me a piercing look. “Should you not fetch that rope ladder?”
    â€œWe already got it,” I said. Then I buttoned my lip.
    Meanwhile, Juliet was pacing faster and faster across the balcony. It was like watching a tennis game with only one player, who was rushing to hit the ball on both sides of the net. Finally, she stopped and stared at the nurse. “What does Romeo say of our marriage?”
    â€œOh, my head aches!” said the nurse.
    â€œRomeo says his head aches?” said Juliet.
    â€œIf he heard this conversation he might,” I whispered to Frankie. “Can’t the nurse just come out with it?”
    She chuckled. “Not according to the play. She keeps Juliet wondering for a long