"After Twenty Years" — Summary Set on a quiet, rain‑slicked street in early‑20th‑century Manhattan, After Twenty Years explores loyalty, fate, and the unexpected turns life can take. Two friends—Jimmy Wells and Bob—made a pact twenty years earlier to meet again at the same spot, no matter where life had taken them. When the night finally arrives, one man keeps the appointment… but the reunion that follows is not the one either of them imagined. O. Henry delivers one of his most famous twist endings here—an ending that raises questions about duty, friendship, and the choices that define us. "Brickdust Row" — Summary In Brickdust Row, O. Henry shifts from the streets to the shabby boarding houses of New York's working class. Here we meet Blinker, a shy, lonely clerk, and Florence, the gentle young woman who lives across the hall. Their lives unfold quietly—two people navigating poverty, pride, and unspoken affection. O. Henry paints the world of Brickdust Row with tenderness and humor, showing how small acts of kindness can brighten even the most worn‑down corners of the city. And, true to form, he delivers a twist—one that reveals the hidden hopes and quiet sacrifices of ordinary people trying to find connection in a big, indifferent city.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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