After Twenty Years

AFTER TWENTY YEARS

                                                                                                                                 - O Henry

O Henry is the pen name of American writer William Sydney Porter. Porter’s 400 short stories are known for their wit, word play, characterization and the clever use of twist endings. O Henry stories are famous for their surprise endings, to the point that such an ending is often referred as an “O Henry ending”.

Jimmy Wells and Bob were two best friends. They grew up like brothers. When, Bob and Jimmy were 18 and 20 years respectively. They parted to seek their fortunes. Before their departure they had an agreement. It was to meet exactly after twenty years at the same place and time irrespective of their conditions. Bob went to West to make his fortune. Jimmy was in New York because he thought that it was the only place on the earth.

    But when Bob went to West he turned out to be a notorious criminal. He was a wanted criminal in Chicago. The police was in search of him. On the other hand Jimmy became a policeman in New York.

    After twenty years at the appointed time Bob was waiting at the place where they departed. It was the same time which they wanted to meet. Just then, a policeman came to him. Bob said that he was waiting there to meet his friend, Jimmy Wells. He was very desperate. He said that he would wait for his friend another half an hour. The policeman wished Bob good luck and was about to leave. Then Bob lighted his cigar in that light policeman saw Bob’s face and then he realized him as the notorious criminal, who wanted in Chicago.

    After some time a man in plain clothes came and introduced himself as Jimmy Wells. Bob’s happiness was boundless. Jimmy and Bob exchanged greetings and views about their ancient good times.  They walked a little distance to have had another dinner after twenty years. They reached the drug store which was brilliant with electric lights. There each of them turned to see other’s face too eagerly. Then Bob realized that who was walking arm in arm along with him was not Jimmy. Bob stopped suddenly and released his arm. Bob knew Jimmy by his Roman nose. Then the man in plain clothes revealed that he was policeman and arrested Bob ten minutes ago. He handed over a note to Bob. The note was from his best friend Jimmy Wells- the first policeman.
   

The note was written as Bob had met him earlier was Jimmy himself. But he realized that his old friend was a wanted man in Chicago and could not arrest him who had come to see his after twenty years. So he had sent a plain clothed man to do the duty.