Dani glanced at the homeless man sleeping on the street and wrinkled her nose in disgust. He was lying on a mattress made of old newspapers and one of his big toes poked out of a dirty, woolen sock. A hoodie was pulled over his face, and he was clutching a donation cup in his stiff, frozen fingers. A sign next to him read, "I haven't eaten in two days, please help me. Merry Christmas."

Dani tightened the Gucci scarf around her neck and muttered to her boyfriend, "The homeless situation around here is getting out of control. You can't walk a single block without having to see one of them. It's gross."

Without giving it further thought, Dani continued down the street, her high heels clacking against the cold pavement, when she suddenly realized Asher was not at her side. She looked back and found him standing in front of the homeless person, pulling out his wallet.

Dani ran back to him and sneered. "What are you doing, Asher? He's just going to use the money to buy drugs or alcohol. Everybody knows that. You're actually enabling him."

Asher turned to his girlfriend and sighed, "Have a little compassion, Dani. I don't think this kid is more than twenty years old. We're on our way to a Christmas party where there's going to be steak and champagne; I think I can spare a few bucks so this kid can have a meal too."

Dani scoffed. "All right, but hurry up, we're running late."

Asher bent down to put the money in the cup, and the young man muttered, "God bless you."

With those three simple words, Asher froze like a rock, his eyes filling with tears. He would know that voice anywhere. Slowly, he lifted the hood off the kids face and said, "Noah, it's me, Asher. We've been searching for you for weeks. Mom's been crazy with worry." He gently combed back his younger brother's hair and begged, "Please, Noah, let's go home."

Dani stared at her boyfriend with a look of contempt on her face. "What's going on Asher? I never pegged you to be such a sentimental fool." She clucked her tongue, "C'mon, if we don't go now, we'll miss the hors d'oeuvres."

At the sound of a woman's voice, Noah sat up with fire burning in his eyes. He looked at Asher and yelled, "What, you brought a social worker? You're trying to have me locked up again? No thank you. He pulled the hood over his head and lay back on the ground. "I'll just stay here."

Asher took his brother's face in his hands. "Look at me, Noah. She's not a social worker, or a therapist or anybody that will harm you. She's just my ex-girlfriend and she's on her way to a party. She's not staying."

Dani's jaw dropped open, and she clenched her fists. "What the hell, Asher? What do you mean ex-girlfriend?"

"Have fun at the party," Asher said,"and please let Bill know I have a pressing engagement and won't be able to make it tonight."

Dani let out a yelp, kicked Asher in the shin and bellowed, "Screw you." She turned around and stomped off in a huff.

Asher rubbed his injured leg and muttered a few obscenities under his breath. He then put his arm around his brother and helped him up. He could tell Noah was in a low cycle and would need a lot of encouragement. "Let's go home," he pleaded. "It's Christmas Eve and you're the gift Mom's been waiting for."

Noah put his head on Asher's shoulder and began to sob. Asher hugged him tightly, taking deep breaths to keep himself calm. The sight of his little brother lying on a newspaper in the freezing cold without shoes gutted him. It took everything he had to hold it together. He sniffled a bit, pulled his brother off him and said, "Come on, let's go buy shoes and and a coat before heading home. Everything will be okay."

"Sorry about your girlfriend," whispered, Noah.

Asher smiled, "You did me a favor little brother."

Noah laughed through his tears, "I wasn't going to say anything Asher, but holy cow, what a bitch. What were you thinking?"

"Clearly, I need my little brother for dating advice. How about some pizza before we go home?"

"No, Asher. I don't have the energy."

"Okay, how about we buy you some clothes, catch a cab home and watch a movie. Your choice. I'll make sure Mom doesn't hover too much. It'll just be us."

"Okay."

"Great," said Asher. He took a deep breath and pulled his brother towards the men's store across the street. He wasn't sure they would let Noah enter dressed so shabbily, so he wrapped his coat around his brother's shoulders before dragging him inside. There was no way he was going to leave Noah waiting outside on his own.

Ten minutes later, the two brothers were in a cab on the way home. Asher had no idea what his brother was thinking, but for him, this was the best Christmas in a very long time.

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