After Twenty Years

We all hope our friendship lasts forever.
But does it?
Well, an American famous writer, O Henry, will tell us the answer in “After 20 years.”

………..


It was almost midnight.
A police officer was patrolling his section in the downtown New York.
 At the corner, the officer found a middle-aged guy standing alone doing nothing, thinking deeply.

Excuse me, sir, but what are you are doing here?

Oh, I am doing nothing wrong. Just waiting for one of my old friends here.

Waiting for your friend at such a late at night?

It’s a promise we made just 20 years ago.
Then, my friend Jimmy Wells and I were very young, having a big hope for the future.
Jimmy wanted to stay here in New York.  I wanted to go to the West.
Then we made a promise to meet again after 20 years at the same time at the same place, no matter what happens..

So you are waiting for your friend, Jimmy Wells here now.

Exactly, sir. I’ve come all the way from the West to meet Jimmy Wells.

Ok, I understand. I hope you could meet him.
By the way, what do you do if your friend, Jimmy does not come on time?

Well, I am going to give him at least 30 minutes. If Jimmy is still alive in this world, he is sure to come.

So, good night, and take care!

Good night, sir.
…

20 minutes passed. Another middle-aged man appeared at the other side of the corner and ran to the man from the West.

You are Bob, aren’t you?

Yes! Yes, you are Jimmy Wells!!
At last I can meet you after 20 years!

Glad to meet you!  How was the West?

The West is great!
It gave me anything I wanted!

The two men began to walk, chatting pleasantly.
When they come just under the shinny street light, they turned and saw each other’s face clearly. Suddenly the man from the West shouted!

You are not Jimmy Wells!
Who are you?!
20 years is a long time, but not long enough to change the shape of the nose!

Well, it might be long enough to change a good guy into a bad guy.
I am not Jimmy Wells. I am a detective.
I came here to arrest you. “Jack-knife” Bob. You are wanted by the Chicago police.
But before that here is a letter for you from tonight patrolman Wells.

The man from the West opened the letter. It was rather short.

Bob： I was at the appointed place at the appointed time. It was a bit dark. But when I saw you, I could recognize the face of the man who is wanted by the Police. I was going to arrest you on the spot, but I couldn't do it myself.
So I came back to the police station and asked a plain clothes man to do the job.
Anyway I was very glad to see you.
JIMMY WELLS