“Story Time for Grownups” presents stories by William Sydney Porter, who took the pen name “O. Henry. Pharmacist, draftsman, journalist, and convict (for alleged bank embezzlement), O. Henry wrote nearly 600 tales noted for their wit, wordplay, characterizations, and often a clever twist ending. Sometimes referred to as the American de Maupassant, he depicted sweet, hapless dreamers and schemers in turn-of-the-last-century New York City, the Midwest, the Old West, and even Honduras (where he fled the law for six months). His most famous stories, “The Gift of the Magi” and “The Ransom of Red Chief,” have been adapted for film and TV many times.

Order a pint of beer, a pot of tea, soup, sandwich, or cookies while you enjoy the old-fashioned experience of listening to real-life stories read aloud. Browse the shelves for a book you might like to take home. No cover charge.

David Loftus has read to listeners in libraries, coffee shops, Powell’s Books, Borders, and Umpqua Bank, on the streets of Portland, and for recordings for the blind. He has performed Gandalf, Bilbo, and Gollum live with Willamette Radio Workshop, and Sherlock Holmes on KBOO. David voices principal characters for the science-fiction podcasts “Exoplanetary” and “253 Mathilde.”