Sample points a gun at Copper on the ground as Dennis tries to flee. Clothes courtesy of Carby's Discount Centre. Shot directed by Rosie Murray - Winston Sill

By Wednesday Reed, STAR WRITER

After leaving Deidre's house, Dennis had a little time to kill before he would be able to find Copper. Fortunately, Copper was a creature of habits so there were only a few places he was likely to be. It was already mid-morning before Dennis found him, lounging outside of a corner shop, with one hand resting on a small table on the sidewalk.

"Yo! Fatness!" Copper said calling to a woman walking past the shop door. The woman barely paused long enough to cut her eyes at him and kiss her teeth. Dennis was glad Copper was distracted, because he wasn't sure the other boy wouldn't try to dodge him.

"Yo! Copper," he said walking up behind the boy who was still busy looking at the woman's retreating rear. Copper spun around in fright.

"Ohh Dennis," Copper said, relief flooding his features. "A you. Blouse and skirt, you nearly gimme a heart attack you know bredren!"

"You need fi come fi you tings!" Dennis said not returning any of the other boy's attempt at friendliness.

"Dennis easy no man, mi soon come fa."

"Mi no intend fi get involved eena dis."

"Bredren, how you cyan gwaan like a gyal so? Mi tink you was a t'ug?"

"Mi seh you fi come fi you tings. An mi done talk."

"So why you neva bring it?"

"You tek man fi punk. Mi naa walk pon street wid dat and come get k -" Something slammed into Dennis' shoulder blade from behind knocking the breath from his body and cutting off the rest of his words. It was then he heard the loud bang. His body lurched forward and he clutched his shoulder. The world seemed to slow down significantly as he brought his hands up to his eyes and saw his fingers covered in blood. He turned and looked at Copper who was crouched behind the table. As the assailant moved toward them the world seemed to speed up again until it returned to normal pace.

The man stepped over Dennis as though he wasn't there and pointed the gun at Copper. "Whe mi tingths deh?" he demanded.

"Sample take it easy no man," Copper pleaded with both hands raised before his face.

"Git up!" Sample commanded and Copper rose keeping his back against the wall. "Mi thay, whe mi tingths deh?" he asked again. Copper opened his mouth to speak but in his fear his tongue betrayed him. Changing his grip on the gun, Sample used it to crack Copper across the mouth. The sound of crunching bone seemed to awaken Dennis from the numbness which had taken over his body. He knew it wouldn't be long before Copper fingered him as the possessor of the gun. Trying not to draw attention to himself, he drew himself slowly away. When he felt he was far enough away he got to his feet and began running.

Next Dennis continues to run as Sample kills Copper.

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