The snow fell light and crisply early Christmas morning. Rafe rolled over and looked at his clock, 5:30!? He knew his mother wouldn't let them up till 7 on Christmas morning so they could be rested for church.

Rafe rolled about in his bed anxiously awaiting morning.

"What's your problem?" Rafe heard from the floor. There lay Danny wiping the long brown hair that was now tangled and frizzed from his face.

"This is one thing you wouldn't understand, Danny boy," Rafe snickered at the cringe on Danny's face. Danny hated being called "Danny boy" and Rafe knew it giving him better reasons to do so.

"Well I ain't ever gonna understand if you don't tell me." Danny said rubbing his eyes to adjust them to the light Rafe had just turned on.

"It's Christmas!" Rafe said with excitement.

"So," Danny lifted an eyebrow.

"You know the day you get presents!" Rafe lye back looking at the ceiling.

Oh yeah, Danny thought, the day daddy gives me a pop and tells us we should go to church but we never do. He then rolled over and went back to sleep…to dream of a Christmas he had yet to see.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The day past slowly after returning home from church that morning. Mrs. McCawley made the famous Christmas fruit salad with melons and berries along with bacon and eggs for breakfast.

The kitchen was petite and filled with many stories of the McCawley generations. To Danny he was a McCawley; he spent almost everyday at their house because Cole was always in town playing cards with the boys or passed out cold from drinking too much.

Whenever they were asked about their family Rafe would always reply, "I got a sister, Kirsten and a little brother…Danny." The children would often tease or laugh at his comment but they didn't care, they were best friends.

Rafe looked across the table as he slurped his glass of milk. "Kirsten?" he paused, "Why do you always have to eat like a slob, you're 4 years old for Pete's sake!"

Kirsten just smiled as she shoved another piece of bacon into her mouth. Her thin brown hair was in braided pigtails dangling above her shoulders. Her big blue eyes were almost covered by her bangs. She had round puffy cheeks that engulfed her eyes when she smiled and there were freckles along her cheeks crossing her button nose.

Rafe cringed at her and looked away, "so Danny you stayin' for the day?"

"Uh, I guess since my daddy's in North Carolina paying a debt." Danny replied shyly.

"Well we love to have you here," Rafe's mother replied kindly.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Danny sat in the corner of the room as presents were distributed through the family. Rafe looked at Danny and walked out of the room. A minute later he was back in the room with a present in his hands. "Here Danny," he said extending the gift to him.

"Thanks Rafe," Danny replied smiling shyly. The card had a scribble on it and then the name DANI written underneath it.

Danny carefully opened up the shoebox to find an old model plane.

"My daddy gave that to me when I was three and well…I wanted you to have it."

Danny's smile grew; "You're my best friend Rafe."