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Welcome to Short Stories with Peter from YourEnglish Toolbox.
Friends will keep a promise they made 20 yearsago.
None of them will have to make a painful choice.
This is an abridged B1–B2 adaptation of AfterTwenty Years by O. Henry,
first published in 1906.
It was almost a good, wet night in New York City.
The shops were closed, and the wind had emptiedthe streets.
A uniformed patrolman walked along the avenue,
checking every dark doorway.
Outside a closed hardware shop,
he saw a man with an unlit cigar.
It is all right, officer.
I am waiting for a friend.
We arranged to meet here 20 years ago tonight.
20 years is a long time between meetings.
What was here then?
A restaurant called Big Joe Brady's stood on thisexact spot.
It was pulled down five years ago.
The waiting man struck a match and lit his cigar.
For a moment, the flame showed his sharp eyes,
a white scar near one eyebrow, and a diamond tiepin.
My name is Bob.
Jimmy Wells and I grew up together here in NewYork.
He was my best friend, and we were almost likebrothers.
03:06
I left for the West to make my fortune,
but Jimmy refused to leave New York.
So we promised to meet here again on this dateexactly 20 years later.
Did you stay in contact?
For a while, but then we lost track of each other.
Still, Jimmy was the most loyal man I ever knew.
If he is alive, he will turn up.
Bob proudly showed him an expensive watch coveredwith small diamonds.
The West gave me everything I wanted.
I hope your friend comes.
Good night, sir.
Patrolmen disappeared into the rain for another 20minutes in a long coat,
hurried across the street.
Is that you, Bob?
Is that you, Jimmy Wells?
It is, Bob, exactly as I hoped.
I wish the old restaurant were still here, so wecould have dinner together again.
They shook hands warmly and began walking arm inarm.
You have grown taller, Jimmy.
I grew a little after I was 20.
At the next corner, a bright shop window lit bothfaces.
Bob stopped and pulled his arm away.
You are not Jimmy Wells.
20 years cannot completely change the shape of aman's nose.
Sometimes 20 years can turn a good man into a badone.
You are under arrest, Bob.
The police in Chicago have been looking for you.
Bob said nothing.
The detective took a folded note from his pocket.
Before we go to the police station, I was asked togive you this.
It is from Jimmy Wells, the patrolman who spoke toyou earlier.
06:04
Bob began reading with a steady hand.
But by the final line, it was trembling.
Bob, I came to our meeting place on time, wearingmy patrolman's uniform.
The moment you lit your cigar, I recognized you asthe man wanted by the Chicago police.
I did not have the heart to arrest you myself, soI asked a plainclothes officer to do it.
Jimmy...
The uniformed patrolman was Jimmy Wells.
He had kept his promise, but the match hadrevealed that his old friend was a wanted man.
Jimmy chose his duty, although he could not arrestBob with his own hands.
End of the story.
Dive into the language and break down some of thekey vocabulary from the story.
Keep your word means to do what you promised.
Both men kept their word by returning after 20years.
To lose track of someone means to stop knowingwhere that person is or what is happening in their
life.
Bob and Jimmy lost track of each other after Bobmoved west.
Up means to arrive or appear, especially whensomebody is waiting.
Bob was certain that Jimmy would turn up to dosomething.
Means to feel unable to do it because it would betoo painful.
Jimmy did not have the heart to arrest hischildhood friend himself.
The past perfect makes the order of past evidenceclear.
They had promised to meet before they lostcontact.
Jimmy had recognized Bob before he asked anotherofficer to arrest him.
09:08
What would you have done in Jimmy's place?
Find the transcript, translations, and vocabularyguide at YourEnglishToolbox.com.
The direct link to every resource is in thisepisode description.
Thank you for listening.
