Beans & Butter

Like clockwork Dr. Fuzz’s stomach began to flip. It always got like this right before an op: the stomach cramps, the dizziness. In Fuzz’s greener days he had it explained to him that the queasiness was just a side effect of excess adrenaline in the system, which affected some guys in different ways: vomiting, shakes, erections —and most embarrassingly— diarrhea which is why to this day he still abides by the wise words of Jack ‘Colonel’ Allison, the ole hardtack himself, who loved giving advice in that deep gravel tone of his. “Son, always remember to empty the mag before loading' up.” He heard ole Hardtack say, back from a time in his greener days when he had embarrassingly held up his first ever op to go let loose in the woods. It was good advice —sound advice, but as Fuzz sat crouched outside of the estate's window his black stealth suit flush against the night, he couldn’t help but salivate at what he saw inside the lit dining area: A family of five sitting and eating a late dinner —spaghetti by the looks of it— served al dente with red sauce and large round, luscious meatballs. Being an Italian himself, Fuzz’s body seemed to move on it’s own, he licked his lips and rubbed his hands together as he edged closer to the window, the light emanating from within increasing in threat to his shadowed self as as the seconds ticked by. At the last possible moment, mere inches from a complete unraveling into exposure, Fuzz’s training took hold and he halted, when he saw new movement in the dining area, there was a sixth person now one he did not recognize. The person was a woman, middle aged, a PR rep perhaps? Girlfriend maybe? Fuzz watched the woman stand at the end of the table that was farthest away from him. She held up her phone while moving her lips, and then all five who were seated turned toward her and moments later Fuzz heard the unmistakable tone of the word “Cheese!” drone out low through the window. The flash on the sixth woman's phone went off and then she started making swiping gestures on it as every