Irv stomped on the wine glass with a thump that reverberated throughout the chapel. “Mazel Tov!” the guests shouted and clapped hands as Irv and his bride retreated back up the aisle.
The four close friends gathered at the bar during the reception. “What’s the significance of smashing the wine glass?” Ray asked.
“That’s a good question, Ray, Irv responded. Some say it’s to remind us of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Others think it represents the fragility of the marriage relationship. But in all honesty fellas, I don’t know where it came from. We all do it; it’s a custom.”
“I’ve heard,” Mike interjected, “that it’s the last time a Jewish husband gets to put his foot down.”
“Yeah, right,” Irv laughed.
James raised his glass. “Here’s to Irv, the last of us to bite the dust; and to his beautiful bride.”
“L’chaim,” Irv said. “To life.”
****
They were all the same age. They grew up on the same street in Brooklyn. Ray was Polish, Mike was Irish, Irv was Jewish and James was Scottish; all of them proud Americans. They relished their differences, which afforded them the opportunity to learn about each other’s culture, family history and especially, food. They often ate dinner at each other’s homes, enjoying chopped liver, kishke, kielbasa with sauerkraut, corned beef and cabbage, even haggis.
When they were teenagers, they had satin jackets custom-made with Buddies embossed on the back. They all attended Brooklyn College and joined the same fraternity. At a sorority mixer during their sophomore year, each of them met, fell in love, and eventually married their college sweethearts – all within a year of each other.
The four friends were not only destined, but determined to share their lives together. Irv and James remained in Brooklyn, Ray and Mike moved to Queens. Their wives were also close friends, and they continued to socialize regularly. They spent weekends together and often rented

a house in the mountains or at the seashore in the summer.
Each year, the four buddies planned a ‘boys only’ trip. Irv suggested a three-day camping weekend. They met at Ray’s home at seven am Friday morning, loaded their gear into his SUV, and arrived at their campsite in the Adirondack Mountains three hours later.
“It’s gonna be hot today,” James remarked as he removed his tee shirt and wiped his forehead.
“It’s July…whaddya expect,” Irv said.
“It usually gets much cooler up here at night,” Ray noted.
“I’m glad we brought warm sleeping bags,” Mike added.
As they pitched their tents, another man approached. “Hi Walter,” Irv said. “What took you so long?”
“Hi guys. Sorry I’m late.”
Ray looked up to greet him. “Hey, Walter, how ya been? Long time no see.”
“We’re gonna gather some wood, Walter,” Irv said. “Wanna join us?”
“If it’s all right with you guys, I’ll stay here and prepare the fireplace. How’s that?”
“Sure Walter, no problem,” Mike said.
The four buddies returned with the firewood and were astonished at Walter’s handiwork. He had dug a three-foot pit lined with stones and laid a grate across the top.
“Beautiful job,” Ray said.
“Where’d you find all those perfectly round stones?” Mike exclaimed.
Walter smiled. “I’m good at what I do.”
They grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for dinner and drank beer that James brought. Walter opened his cooler and took out a bottle of Chardonnay. “Wine, anyone?” The four buddies smiled. “We’ll stick with the beer for now.”
After dinner, Irv brewed a pot of coffee. Mike unwrapped a huge chocolate layer cake with chocolate frosting. “Did you bake that or did your wife?” James snickered.
“You know Mike can’t bake worth a damn,” Ray joked.
“No,” Mike sighed, “Ray’s right…my wife baked it.”
Walter opened the trunk of his car. “I have a surprise for you guys,” returning with a guitar.

He sat on a log near the firepit and started strumming.
“You have a nice voice,” Irv said.
Walter continued singing folk tunes. “I appreciate that, Irv.”
Irv turned to Ray and whispered, “He really doesn’t sing well. I was just trying to be nice.”
“Sing us another,” Ray implored.
They sat around the campfire sharing jokes and toasting marshmallows until well after sundown. Walter turned to his four friends. “Guys, I really appreciate being here with you. You have no idea what it means to me.”
One after another, each of the four buddies shared with Walter how they enjoyed his company. “Okay, we have a mutual admiration society,” Mike said. “I’m tired now and ready to turn in for the night.”
“Me too,” James said.
“Yeah, let’s,” they all agreed.
****
Irv was first to wake up at six am. “Let’s get a move on guys. Fish are a-waitin’ fer us.” They ordered breakfast burritos from McKeown’s Snack Shack on the pier, rented rowboats and spent the entire morning fishing. Satisfied with their catch, they returned to their campsite
****
They spent the afternoon relaxing, playing poker, and drinking beer. “Mind if I do the cooking for dinner?” Walter asked as he began to scale and gut his prize catches.
“You’re good at cooking, too, I suppose,” Ray chuckled.
“You bet,” Walter laughed, tossing the fish head at him.
Walter filled everyone’s plate with fish filets and the baked potatoes and asparagus he cooked as well.
“Walter,” Irv remarked with his mouth full of trout, “you are an amazing chef. This fish is outstanding!”
“Where’d you learn to cook like that?” Mike added.
Walter offered a silent nod and smiled. “He told us he was good,” James said.
****

They dismantled the tents the next morning and stowed their gear in the car. “Need any help with your stuff, Walter?” James called.
“Thanks, Jimmy, but I can handle it.”
Mike whispered to Walter, “He really prefers to be called James.”
“I’m sorry about that, James. Forgive me?”
James grinned. “Just this once, Wally.”
“That’s ‘Walter,’ if you don’t mind.”
They circled the firepit and doused the remnants of their breakfast fire in Boy Scout style.
“So long fellas,” Walter said. “See ya next time.”
“Good to see you, too,” Irv responded. “Glad you could make it.”
****
The buddies went skiing on their next boys only trip the following winter. “I heard that they have some good soft powder,” Irv said. “I can’t wait to hit the slopes.”
Walter was waiting for them at the ski lodge. Ray was first to greet him. “Hey, Walter, great to see you again.”
“How’re things going?” James asked.
“Just fine,” Walter replied. “It’s so good to see you all again. I love coming along with you on these trips.”
“No problem with your wife letting you come?” Irv asked.
“Let’s not go there,” Walter responded.
James was now getting impatient. “Hey, are we just gonna gab here or are we gonna get out there and ski?”
“I already checked in.” Walter said. “I’ll wait for you guys here in the lobby while you all get settled.”
They went to their rooms, unpacked quickly, grabbed their skis and took the shuttle to the slopes where they spent the rest of the afternoon racing down the expert trails. Walter chose the intermediate trail, taking a few spills, but finally managing to finish unscathed.
“Didn’t break anything, did you?” Ray joked.
“Not this time,” Walter responded. “I may not be as good a skier as you guys, but I am

getting better.”
“I thought you were good at everything you do,” Mike said, sarcastically.
“Oh, screw you,” Walter laughed.
****
In the apres-ski lounge, they consumed three bottles of wine and shared anecdotes about their previous adventures together. The conversation drifted to their wives. “Our wives like to go shopping together while we’re on our trips. What’s your wife doing, Walter?” James asked.
“I don’t know. Let’s not talk about her, okay?”
The buddies looked at each other without speaking. After a few moments, Mike broke the silence. “How about we get ready for dinner?
They went to Max’s Steak House in town. Irv, Ray, Mike and James ordered theirs medium rare; Walter wanted his well done. He ordered a glass of Chardonnay; the others all ordered pints of Guinness.
The five men skied for most of the next day, went to a barbecue joint for dinner and talked about their jobs, their careers, and plans for the future. The four buddies did most of the talking while Walter sat quietly sipping his Chardonnay. Ray slapped him on the leg. “What’s the matter, Walter, cat got your tongue?”
“Yeah, why so quiet, Walter?” Irv wondered.
There was a long pause as Walter continued to gaze at his friends. “I was just thinking, guys, how much I enjoy being with you all on these trips.”
“We’re glad to have you with us,” Mike said.
The following morning, they said their goodbyes to Walter, wished him well and a safe journey home. They loaded their skis on the roof of Ray’s SUV, stowed the rest of their gear in the cargo area, the ‘wayback,’ as Ray called it, and drove home.
“I wonder if he’ll be with us on our next trip,” James remarked.
****
In celebration of their twenty-five years together as close friends, the four buddies planned a long weekend in Las Vegas. Walter was already waiting for them in the lobby of Caesar’s Palace. “Hi guys, I arrived late last night. I hope that’s all right with you.”

“We’re happy you could join us, Walter,” Irv said.
“Good to see you again,” Ray added.
“I wasn’t sure you were going to come,” James remarked.
“I wasn’t sure either,” Walter responded, “but I’m happy to be here.”
****
Walter joined them the following summer at Yankee Stadium. “I got hot dogs and beer for us.”
“Make sure you don’t spill anything,” Irv said as he helped distribute the goods to his buddies. The same scene occurred at the NY Giants football game a few months later; Walter was there with hot dogs and beer again. At the Rangers game in Madison Square Garden, Walter brought soft ice cream swirl cones for each of them. Every time the four buddies planned an event or trip, Walter had always been welcomed.
The four buddies and their wives planned an evening of dinner and a Broadway show. They made reservations at Le Rivage on Restaurant Row. “We have theater tickets for 8 pm,” Irv told the waiter.
“That’s not a problem. We’ll have you out in plenty of time.”
As they were all were seated, they heard a familiar voice. “Hi fellas.” Walter entered, surprised to see that his friends were there with their wives. They could tell that he was uncomfortable. “Oh, I didn’t know that this was going to be a couples evening.”
“Um, not sure what to tell you, Walter,” Mike began.
“That’s right, Walter,” Ray continued. “We had planned this evening for just the eight of us.”
All eyes were on Walter, who stood there like a child whose parents had abandoned him. “I must have made a mistake,” he apologized, then turned and scampered out the door. The four couples stared quizzically at each other. James’ wife spoke broke the silence. “So that was Walter!”
“You mean he actually does exist,” Mike’s wife quipped.
“Now we finally know for sure that you guys weren’t just making him up,” Irv’s wife remarked.
“Where did you meet him?” Ray’s wife inquired.
“And why did you always invite him on your trips?” James’s wife asked.

Ray thought for a moment. “I don’t recall that we ever actually did invite him.”
“Did he ever mention his wife?” Irv’s wife wondered.
“Come to think of it,” Irv said, “he never talked about his wife.”
“You know,” Mike continued, “I don’t remember how we first met him. Do any of you?”
Ray, James and Irv shrugged their shoulders. “All I remember,” Ray began, “is that Walter was just…. there. I don’t remember when it began. I think it was we started our ‘boys only’ trips. He showed up and we all acted as if we knew him, didn’t we?”
“You’re right,” James offered.
“Yes,” Mike added. “He always just appeared.”
“How strange is that?” Irv noted.
The waiter approached and handed out menus. “Would you like to order something to drink? Some wine perhaps?” They ordered a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and a bottle of Chardonnay. James raised his glass. “Here’s to Walter, our mystery friend.”
****
Dr. Robbins leaned back in her chair, pen in hand and notepad on her lap. “So, Walter, bring me up to date. How have you been?”
Walter sat in the recliner facing her. “Well, doc, it’s been sort of a roller coaster.”
“Tell me about it,” the psychiatrist said.
“You recall how I’ve been telling you about all those recurring dreams I’ve been having for so long? About those four guys I always met up with…you know, on their trips, ballgames and such. They always welcomed me. But in my dream the other night they didn’t seem happy to see me. I felt unwelcome. They were in a restaurant with their wives this time. I didn’t fit in.”
“And how did you feel about that?”
“I was very uncomfortable. And the interesting thing is, I have this feeling that I won’t be having any more of those dreams about them. Do you think it has anything do to with the fact that my divorce is now final?”
Dr. Robbins smiled. “That’s a good possibility, Walter. Perhaps they filled a special purpose during the divorce proceedings. Most of your friends were through your wife’s contacts, weren’t they? You created these men in your dreams as your own friends; and yours alone. Am I right?”

“Yes, they were, Dr. Robbins. I believe you’ve hit the nail on the head. Now I’ll have to develop new friends, without her. Start a new life, so to speak.”
“Walter, I believe you’ve made a major breakthrough.”
****
The four buddies checked into the Hotel St. Marie in the French Quarter at three pm. “This is gonna be a great weekend,” Ray began.
“I’m glad we made dinner reservations at Pat O’Brien’s. It’s usually crowded,” Mike said.
“I’m looking forward to hearing the jazz band at Preservation Hall,” Irv remarked.
James scanned the lobby, bewildered. “Hey,” he noted, “Has anyone seen Walter?”