After Twenty Years

Title of the story : After Twenty Years

Author : O Henry

Number pages : 6

Summary:

There was a policeman who was walking on the avenue, but suddenly he slowed his walk. He saw a man who was smoking and leaned at the doorway of a darkened hardware store. Then, the policeman walked up to him. The man told to the policeman that he was waiting for his friend. They had a promise to come again at that place after twenty years. Actually, there was a restaurant at that place, but since five years ago it was torn down. Then, the policeman saw the man’s scarf pin was a large diamond with oddly set. However, the policeman just heard and seemed interested in whatever the man talked about his past that was done with his friend, Jimmy twenty years ago. This man that actually the name was Bob also talked about his business until he got his wealth.

Later, the policeman left Bob and let him waited again. After twenty minutes, a tall man in a long overcoat came to Bob. Directly, the new arrival asked to the man whether he was Bob or not. Apparently, Bob supposed that the new comer was Jimmy, his friend. Then, they walked together along the street. However, when they passed through a drug store with well-lighted, Bob realized that the man beside him was not Jimmy. Unfortunately, he was true that the new comer was not his friend. Moreover, the new comer gave Bob a note from the real Jimmy. From the note known that actually the policeman that had accompanied him several minutes ago was Jimmy, and he saw the face of the man wanted in Chicago on Bob’s face, but he could not catch his friend by himself. Therefore, he went around and had a plain cloth man do his job.

Personal Impressions:

Actually, I am astonished to Jimmy’s characteristic. Even though he loved his friend, he still did his job to catch him because his friend was a criminal. Jimmy knew that his duty as a policeman was to catch a criminal, but he also knew if he was the one who catch his friend by himself, absolutely his friend would be hurt. Therefore, he had another people to do this.

By: Indah Permatasari