I was mingling at the Literary Lunch and I sat down at a table with an interesting looking bunch of people.

“May I sit here?” I said.

“Be our guest,” said the blond woman.

There were four other men at the round table.

“I’m Writer Dave,” I said.

“My name is Marilyn,” said the blonde.

“I’m Thomas,” said the long grey haired gent with the dark suit and high collar white shirt.

“My name is Walt,” said the non-descript man.

“I’m Winston,” said the chubby fellow.

“I’m Jack,” said the young man with the thick head of hair.

“We were just talking about differences of opinion, Dave, and I said, I’ve never considered a difference of opinion in politics, religion, or philosophy, a reason for withdrawing from a friend,” said Thomas.

Then Walt spoke up, “I’ve never lost a friend I wanted to keep.”

“Well, I feel if we listened to other opinions beside our own, we just might learn something,” I chimed in.

“I remember I was once with a woman who intimidated I was drunk and she looked down her nose at me. So, I said, I may be drunk, madam, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly!” smiled the chubby Winston.

We all laughed.

“Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought,” said young Jack.

“I think that is very true,” I said.

“You gentlemen are all very erudite. My opinion is, I don’t mind living in a man’s world as long as I can be a woman in it,” said Marilyn.

We all smiled and raised our eyebrows.

Jack winked at Marilyn, like he knew her before.

“Well, with your looks, I don’t think you’ll be spending much time alone,” said Jack.

“I restore myself when I’m alone,” said Marilyn seriously.

“I’m a gossip columnist,” said Walt, “And I write stories about women like you!”

Marilyn scowled and said, “Dogs never bite me-just humans.”

“Oh Walt, that’s one for Marilyn,” said Winston.

There was silence for a minute while we all sipped our drinks.

Then Winston continued, “Enemies, you have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, you’ve stood your ground, sometime in your life.”

“Here, here,” said Thomas, “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.”

“I write about gossip and gossip is the art of saying nothing in a way that leaves practically nothing unsaid,” said Walt, looking at Marilyn.

Marilyn glared at Walt and said, “I like some men’s company but some I can’t stand.”

Walt laughed, “She’s been on more laps than a napkin!”

“That’s one for you Walt,” said Winston.

“Is this a sort of game, where you keep score?” I said.

“Come on, lets all be friends. Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names,” said Jack, smiling at Marilyn.

“The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money,” said Thomas.

“That’s very true,” I said, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

Looking at Walt, Marilyn said, “I don’t mind people making jokes, but I don’t like people to try to make me one!”

“Come on, Marilyn, give us something to write about,” laughed Walt.

“Okay, I will. So, you want to know what I wear in bed? Why, Chanel No. 5 perfume, of course!”

The whole table roared with laughter!

It was then I noticed all the place cards on the table. I was in the company of Thomas Jefferson, Winston Churchill, JFK, Walter Winchell and of course, Marilyn Monroe!

I was gobsmacked! And then I woke up!