Summary for after twenty years
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A twist ending is a sudden and unexpected turn of events in a story's conclusion. Before M. Night Shyamalan, there was William Sydney Porter - better known as O. Henry - whose legendary mastery of the twist ending in short stories is perhaps nowhere better exemplified than in his 'After Twenty Years.'
'After Twenty Years' is a story of fewer than 1,300 words that opens with a policeman on night patrol. It's nearly 10:00, and all's quiet as he walks his beat, checking locks for safety. Suddenly, though, a figure standing in a doorway catches his attention, and he approaches. The person speaks up and reassures the officer that he's not looking to cause any trouble - just waiting on a friend with whom he'd made an appointment 20 years ago to meet at that spot.
The man lights a cigar and tells the lawman about his friend, Jimmy Wells, who'd been more like a brother to him when they were younger. He praises Jimmy's character and assures the policeman that he'll keep their appointment for 10:00. As it's already quite nearly ten, the officer asks if the man will wait any longer for Jimmy, and the patient friend says he'll give him half an hour as the lawman continues his patrol.
About 20 minutes later, another man approaches and calls to the waiting friend by name - Bob. As the two men greet each other heartily, Bob begins to recognize some unfamiliar characteristics in his friend; namely, he seems taller than he remembered. He accepts his friend's reply that he'd grown some in 20 years, until they come across the bright lights of a drug store.
Here, Bob realizes that the man in front of him doesn't have the same nose as Jimmy, but it's far too late for him to escape arrest from the plainclothesman posing as Jimmy. Before taking him into custody, however, the officer hands Bob a note from Patrolman Wells whom he'd unwittingly met earlier. In it, Jimmy admits he recognized Bob's face from a Chicago police bulletin but didn't have the heart to bring him in himself when he had indeed made it to their appointment on time without Bob's ever knowing.
'After Twenty Years' is a story of fewer than 1,300 words that opens with a policeman on night patrol. It's nearly 10:00, and all's quiet as he walks his beat, checking locks for safety. Suddenly, though, a figure standing in a doorway catches his attention, and he approaches. The person speaks up and reassures the officer that he's not looking to cause any trouble - just waiting on a friend with whom he'd made an appointment 20 years ago to meet at that spot.
The man lights a cigar and tells the lawman about his friend, Jimmy Wells, who'd been more like a brother to him when they were younger. He praises Jimmy's character and assures the policeman that he'll keep their appointment for 10:00. As it's already quite nearly ten, the officer asks if the man will wait any longer for Jimmy, and the patient friend says he'll give him half an hour as the lawman continues his patrol.
About 20 minutes later, another man approaches and calls to the waiting friend by name - Bob. As the two men greet each other heartily, Bob begins to recognize some unfamiliar characteristics in his friend; namely, he seems taller than he remembered. He accepts his friend's reply that he'd grown some in 20 years, until they come across the bright lights of a drug store.
Here, Bob realizes that the man in front of him doesn't have the same nose as Jimmy, but it's far too late for him to escape arrest from the plainclothesman posing as Jimmy. Before taking him into custody, however, the officer hands Bob a note from Patrolman Wells whom he'd unwittingly met earlier. In it, Jimmy admits he recognized Bob's face from a Chicago police bulletin but didn't have the heart to bring him in himself when he had indeed made it to their appointment on time without Bob's ever knowing.
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HI mate GM here is your answer...,
Sometimes, one of the most difficult lessons for us to learn as we get older is that people, including ourselves, change. Although we might be able to recognize the physical features of people we once knew, some of their other qualities could very well be altered beyond recognition - especially after 20 years.
In this short story by O. Henry, the two main characters - policeman Jimmy Wells and outlaw 'Silky' Bob - learn this lesson all too well. At one time, the two had been as close as brothers. However, once Bob left to pursue his fortunes in the West, the two eventually lost touch. Nevertheless, they had promised to meet each other in 20 years, to the hour, after their last dinner together at the same spot in New York City.
Twenty years later, Bob's waiting outside where the restaurant once stood when he and Jimmy parted ways; the latter, who's now a policeman, comes upon him while he's walking his beat. After hearing Bob's story about the friends' pledge to meet up again and watching him light up a cigar, Jimmy recognizes it's Bob. He also realizes his old friend is a fugitive from Chicago, whom he'd seen earlier on a police bulletin. At that point, Bob isn't aware that the policeman is Jimmy, who goes about on about his patrol, leaving the outlaw to wait for his friend.
After a few moments, another man appears. At first, Bob thinks he is Jimmy. Although Bob can't see the man too well in the dark, he begins to notice that some things are off about him. Eventually, the man reveals that he's a plainclothes officer taking Bob under arrest. Before he does so, he hands Bob a note from the patrolman, who turns out to be his former best friend and betrayer, Jimmy.
I hope it will help you and mark me as a brain list answer plz.
Sometimes, one of the most difficult lessons for us to learn as we get older is that people, including ourselves, change. Although we might be able to recognize the physical features of people we once knew, some of their other qualities could very well be altered beyond recognition - especially after 20 years.
In this short story by O. Henry, the two main characters - policeman Jimmy Wells and outlaw 'Silky' Bob - learn this lesson all too well. At one time, the two had been as close as brothers. However, once Bob left to pursue his fortunes in the West, the two eventually lost touch. Nevertheless, they had promised to meet each other in 20 years, to the hour, after their last dinner together at the same spot in New York City.
Twenty years later, Bob's waiting outside where the restaurant once stood when he and Jimmy parted ways; the latter, who's now a policeman, comes upon him while he's walking his beat. After hearing Bob's story about the friends' pledge to meet up again and watching him light up a cigar, Jimmy recognizes it's Bob. He also realizes his old friend is a fugitive from Chicago, whom he'd seen earlier on a police bulletin. At that point, Bob isn't aware that the policeman is Jimmy, who goes about on about his patrol, leaving the outlaw to wait for his friend.
After a few moments, another man appears. At first, Bob thinks he is Jimmy. Although Bob can't see the man too well in the dark, he begins to notice that some things are off about him. Eventually, the man reveals that he's a plainclothes officer taking Bob under arrest. Before he does so, he hands Bob a note from the patrolman, who turns out to be his former best friend and betrayer, Jimmy.
I hope it will help you and mark me as a brain list answer plz.
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