Overview

"After Twenty Years" is a short story written by O. Henry. It is a story of a meeting between two friends, Bob and Jimmy, according to the promise they made twenty years ago. They wish to tell each other what befell them in the intervening years. The end of the story brings surprise.

Learning Outcomes (Module 7)

• Identifies the genre of short story as a literary text by close reading and interpreting possible meanings.
• Composes in different styles (narrative, descriptive, expository, persuasive) from their own experiences and experiences of others.
• Formulates their point of view over complex situations.
• Evaluates qualities like friendship and loyalty, arrogance and self-absorption, and trust through the actions of the characters.

Section 7.1: The Policeman on the Beat

The policeman on the beat moved up the avenue impressively. The impressiveness was habitual and not for show, for spectators were few. The time was barely 10 o'clock at night, but chilly gusts of wind with a taste of rain in them had well-nigh depopulated the streets. Trying doors as he went, twirling his club with many intricate and artful movements, turning now and then to cast his watchful eye down the pacific thoroughfare, the officer, with his stalwart form and slight swagger, made a fine picture of a guardian of the peace. The vicinity was one that kept early hours. Now and then you might see the lights of a cigar store or of an all-night lunch counter; but the majority of the doors belonged to business places that had long since been closed.

Let Us Understand 7.1: A policeman confidently walked around the deserted nighttime streets of New York City in cold, windy, wet weather. He was very impressive as he completed his rounds and confidently checked the locks of every door to be sure they were secured. The area was deserted; there were very few people around and most businesses had already closed for the day, yet the policeman was alert.

Key vocabulary (7.1): Well-nigh (almost), twirling, intricate, pacific thoroughfare (calm street), stalwart, vicinity. Beat = patrol territory; club = policeman's stick. The policeman is impressive, confident, and cautious. Streets were depopulated because of chilly wind and rain.

Section 7.2: The Man in the Doorway

When about midway of a certain block the policeman suddenly slowed his walk. In the doorway of a darkened hardware store a man leaned, with an unlighted cigar in his mouth. As the policeman walked up to him the man spoke up quickly. "It's all right, officer," he said, reassuringly. "I'm just waiting for a friend. It's an appointment made twenty years ago. Sounds a little funny to you, doesn't it? Well, I'll explain if you'd like to make certain it's all right. About that long ago there used to be a restaurant where this store stands — 'Big Joe' Brady's restaurant."

"Until five years ago," said the policeman. "It was torn down then." The man in the doorway struck a match and lit his cigar. The light showed a pale, square-jawed face with keen eyes, and a little white scar near his right eyebrow. His scarfpin was a large diamond, oddly set.

"Twenty years ago tonight," said the man, "I dined here at 'Big Joe' Brady's with Jimmy Wells, my best chum, and the finest chap in the world. He and I were raised here in New York, just like two brothers, together. I was eighteen and Jimmy was twenty. The next morning I was to start for the West to make my fortune. You couldn't have dragged Jimmy out of New York; he thought it was the only place on earth. Well, we agreed that night that we would meet here again exactly twenty years from the date and time, no matter what our conditions might be or from what distance we might have to come. We figured that in twenty years each of us ought to have our destiny worked out and our fortunes made, whatever they were going to be."

Let Us Understand 7.2: The policeman suddenly slowed when he noticed a man standing in a darkened doorway. The man had a little white scar near his right eyebrow and wore a scarf pin with a large diamond. Seeing the police officer walking toward him, the man explained that he was waiting for his childhood friend, Jimmy Wells. Twenty years ago they had both agreed to meet at Big Joe Brady's restaurant at 10 pm on this date. The police officer informed the man that the restaurant had closed five years ago. However, the man added that twenty years ago he had dined at 'Big Joe' Brady's with his best friend Jimmy Wells. They had been as close as brothers. He was eighteen then and Jimmy was twenty. They decided they would meet there again exactly twenty years from that date and time, no matter what their conditions might be. The next morning he left for the West to make his fortune while Jimmy stayed on in New York.

Key vocabulary (7.2): Torn down — demolition of a building. Bob is wealthy and confident; Jimmy is his best chum. They promised to meet at 'Big Joe' Brady's at 10 pm twenty years later. Bob went West; Jimmy stayed in New York.

Section 7.3: Correspondence, Success, and Departure

"It sounds pretty interesting," said the policeman. "Rather a long time between meets, though, it seems to me. Haven't you heard from your friend since you left?"

"Well, yes, for a time we corresponded," said the other. "But after a year or two we lost track of each other. You see, the West is a pretty big proposition, and I kept hustling around over it pretty lively. But I know Jimmy will meet me here if he's alive, for he always was the truest, staunchest old chap in the world. He'll never forget. I came a thousand miles to stand in this door tonight, and it's worth it if my old partner turns up."

The waiting man pulled out a handsome watch, the lids of it set with small diamonds. "Three minutes to ten," he announced. "It was exactly ten o'clock when we parted here at the restaurant door."

"Did pretty well out West, didn't you?" asked the policeman. "You bet! I hope Jimmy has done half as well. He was a kind of plodder, though, good fellow as he was. I've had to compete with some of the sharpest wits. A man gets in a groove in New York. It takes the West to put a razor-edge on him."

The policeman twirled his club and took a step or two. "I'll be on my way. Hope your friend comes around all right. Going to call time on him sharp?" "I should say not!" said the other. "I'll give him half an hour at least. If Jimmy is alive on earth he'll be here by that time. So long, officer." "Good night, sir," said the policeman, passing on along his beat, trying doors as he went.

Let Us Understand 7.3: The policeman found the story interesting and asked if the man had heard from his friend since then. The man replied they had lost track of each other a year or two after they parted but was sure that if Jimmy was alive, he would come — just as he had travelled "a thousand miles" to be there. He pulled out a handsome watch, the lid of which was set with small diamonds. Noting the man's expensive jewellery, the police officer observed that the man must have been successful. The man confirmed this, explaining that while in the West he had to pit his wits against some of the sharpest wits for his fortune. He hoped his friend, who was slower, had done half as well. The police officer wished the man a good night and moved on. The man expressed his determination to wait some more, even as the weather became increasingly cold and rainy.

Key vocabulary (7.3): Proposition (large area), hustling, staunchest, plodder, groove, razor-edge. Bob will wait at least half an hour. He believes the West sharpens a man while New York keeps him in a groove.

Section 7.4: The Reunion and the Twist

There was now a fine, cold drizzle falling, and the wind had risen from its uncertain puffs into a steady blow. The few foot passengers astir in that quarter hurried dismally and silently along with coat collars turned high and pocketed hands. And in the door of the hardware store the man who had come a thousand miles to fill an appointment, uncertain almost to absurdity, with the friend of his youth, smoked his cigar and waited.

About twenty minutes he waited, and then a tall man in a long overcoat, with collar turned up to his ears, hurried across from the opposite side of the street. He went directly to the waiting man. "Is that you, Bob?" he asked, doubtfully. "Is that you, Jimmy Wells?" cried the man in the door. "Bless my heart!" exclaimed the new arrival, grasping both the other's hands with his own. "It's Bob, sure as fate. I was certain I'd find you here if you were still in existence. Well, well, well! — twenty years is a long time. The old restaurant's gone, Bob; I wish it had lasted, so we could have had another dinner there. How has the West treated you, old man?"

"Bully; it has given me everything I asked it for. You've changed lots, Jimmy. I never thought you were so tall by two or three inches." "Oh, I grew a bit after I was twenty." "Doing well in New York, Jimmy?" "Moderately. I have a position in one of the city departments. Come on, Bob; we'll go around to a place I know of, and have a good long talk about old times." The two men started up the street, arm in arm. The man from the West, his egotism enlarged by success, was beginning to outline the history of his career. The other, submerged in his overcoat, listened with interest.

At the corner stood a drug store, brilliant with electric lights. When they came into this glare each of them turned simultaneously to gaze upon the other's face. The man from the West stopped suddenly and released his arm. "You're not Jimmy Wells," he snapped. "Twenty years is a long time, but not long enough to change a man's nose from a Roman to a pug." "It sometimes changes a good man into a bad one," said the tall man. "You've been under arrest for ten minutes, 'Silky' Bob. Chicago thinks you may have dropped over our way and wires us she wants to have a chat with you. Going quietly, are you? That's sensible. Now, before we go on to the station here's a note I was asked to hand you. You may read it here at the window. It's from Patrolman Wells."

The man from the West unfolded the little piece of paper handed him. His hand was steady when he began to read, but it trembled a little by the time he had finished. The note was rather short: "Bob; I was at the appointed place on time. When you struck the match to light your cigar I saw it was the face of the man wanted in Chicago. Somehow I couldn't do it myself, so I went around and got a plain-clothes man to do the job. JIMMY."

Let Us Understand 7.4: The man waited about twenty minutes when a tall man in a long overcoat approached and asked if he was Bob. Bob answered excitedly and they greeted each other warmly. Bob said the West had given him everything he asked for; the tall man said he worked for the city and had done moderately well. Bob commented Jimmy had grown a few inches. They walked together until they came to a brilliantly lit drug store. They gazed at each other; Bob noticed the tall man's pug nose — Jimmy had a Roman nose. Bob realised the man was not Jimmy. The tall man revealed Bob was under arrest — Chicago police had informed New York that Bob, wanted criminal "Silky Bob," was in town. Before leading Bob away, he gave a note from Patrolman Wells: Jimmy was there on time, recognised Bob when he lit his cigar, could not arrest his friend himself, and sent a plain-clothes man to do the job. Bob's hands trembled because events took an unexpected turn — he expected reunion, not arrest.

Key vocabulary (7.4): Dismally, absurdity, bully (splendid), simultaneously, Roman nose vs pug nose, plain-clothes man.

Character Sketches (Textbook)

Bob (Silky) Dawl

Once a close friend of Jimmy, now polished and involved in a life of crime. Exhibits sentimentality and criminality, highlighting the impact of time on individuals. Represents the changed dynamics of friendship and life choices over two decades.

Jimmy Wells

A uniformed policeman with a quiet demeanor who questions Bob about his activities. Symbolizes law and order and adds tension to the narrative. Central character; symbolises constancy and the passage of time. Faces internal conflict between loyalty to friendship and duty to the law.

Do You Know — O. Henry

O. Henry's real name was William Sydney Porter. He was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1862. He specialised in the short story that ends with a completely unexpected surprise. This story was first published in his anthology, The Four Million in 1906. Point of view (POV) is the narrator's position in relation to the story. "After Twenty Years" is narrated in third person omniscient, where an 'off-page' narrator relates a story about the characters and gives a broader view of things.

Literary Devices: Foreshadowing

O. Henry uses foreshadowing — a literary device that gives an indication or hint of what is to come later. It creates suspense, unease, curiosity, or a sense that things may not be as they seem. In this story, foreshadowing appears when Bob mentions his appointment with a friend at a specific location twenty years later, creating anticipation for the eventual revelation. Other works using foreshadowing include "Rain, Rain, Go Away" by Isaac Asimov, "The Landlady" by Roald Dahl, and "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe.

Grammar: Simple, Complex, and Compound Sentences

Simple — one main clause ("The cat meows loudly"). Complex — one main clause plus dependent clause(s); comma if dependent clause comes first. Compound — two or more independent clauses joined by and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet. Example from intext: "The policeman completed his rounds and confidently checked the locks" = compound.

What Have You Learnt — Themes

• The story explores loyalty and friendship through Jimmy Wells and Bob. Despite twenty years, Jimmy remains loyal to his promise to meet Bob at the specific location, highlighting the enduring nature of their friendship.
• The story emphasizes how time changes people and circumstances. The reunion after two decades reveals how both characters evolved and experienced different life paths — Bob became a criminal; Jimmy became a policeman.
• Jimmy's internal conflict — duty versus friendship — drives the narrative tension. He honours the appointment but cannot arrest his friend himself.

Summary

O. Henry's "After Twenty Years" opens on a cold, rainy night in New York as a policeman patrols deserted streets. He meets Bob waiting in a hardware-store doorway for Jimmy Wells — they promised twenty years ago to reunite at Big Joe Brady's restaurant at 10 pm. Bob, scarred and wealthy from the West, travelled a thousand miles; Jimmy stayed in New York. After the policeman leaves, a tall man claiming to be Jimmy greets Bob warmly. Under bright drug-store lights, Bob notices the man's pug nose — Jimmy had a Roman nose. The stranger is a plain-clothes officer: Bob is "Silky Bob," wanted in Chicago. A note from Patrolman Jimmy Wells reveals Jimmy kept the appointment, recognised Bob when he lit his cigar, and sent another officer because he could not arrest his old friend. The story surprises with loyalty, law, and how twenty years transform lives.