Courage

For anyone who doesn't know, I always thought of Dennis as an older brother. Here is just one of the many stories/memories I have of us growing up.
It was Halloween night, I was about 12 or 13 years old-- that would have made Dennis 15 or 16. While participating in the annual "Beachmont Egg Wars", I was confronted by a neighborhood bully/toughguy. He thought that my friend and I had just thrown some eggs at him. Even though I told him we didn't (and I was telling the truth because I think he was about 17 or 18 yrs. old at the time), he proceeded to smash an egg on the top of my head. When who else but Dennis comes around the corner. Dennis, noticing the look on my face and probably the tears in my eyes, asked me what had happened. After telling him that the kid had just smashed an egg on my head, Dennis calls him out. The bully wisely backed down. Even funnier, Dennis also made the kid apologize to me.
On our way home Dennis turns to me and while wiping the egg from my face that had started to drip down, he says "Holy s*** Mikey, I thought we were gonna get our asses kicked." Because what I didn't tell you earlier is that the bully was with 4 or 5 of his buddies and even though Dennis was afraid, he stood up for me anyway. Now if that isn't COURAGE, I don't know what is!
Dennis I love you and miss you.
-Mikey (Dennis' cousin)