Act 1, Scene 2 Summary

Jo's boyfriend, a sailor named Jimmie, walks her home from school. He asks her to marry him and has a ring for her. Jo accepts. Jimmie is worried about what Helen will say when she learns that he is black. Jo is worried that Helen will laugh at her and not take the engagement seriously due to their youth, but she is not worried about Helen's reaction to Jimmie. Whatever else Helen might be, Jo explains, she is not prejudiced about color.

The young couple plans to get married during Jimmie's next leave in six months. Until then, they will try to save some money. Jo tells her fiancée that she starts a part-time job in a bar this week, when she leaves school. Jimmie is sad that he is in the Navy, because they will not see each other...