Operation Bite Mark was huddled down in a broken-down shack by a dock in the bayou. in some backwoods town in the middle of Nowhere, Louisiana. Cicadas were buzzing all around them, and the mosquitoes seemed to be eating them alive. Warren, much like Murphy, Addy, Doc, and 10K, was sweating like a sinner in church. Doc was out exploring the area, though he was by himself because he insisted that it was too hot for 10K to be about. Instead, the teen would keep around them somewhere. Doc seemed to be the only one who could keep track of him these days. Addy was searching the house in hopes of finding something to eat. Warren sat barefoot on the dock with tapped a wet cloth to her neck. She grumbled, "Looks like the sun is finally going down."
Murphy laid next to her with his shirt unbuttoned. He replied, "It's about time."
Addy walked out a side door from the shack they were currently camping out in and onto the dock, "I threw us something together. Dinner's on the table."
Warren unstuck her sticky legs from the wooden flooring and stood up. Murphy followed as well. They made their way into the decrepit kitchen with a wooden dining table and six matching slightly stable chairs. A large metal bowl of what looked like grey slop steamed on the table.
Then they heard something splash out of the swamp water and wet bare footsteps on the dock.
They quickly stood, their chairs flying behind them. They ran out the shack's side door and back onto the dock, fully prepared to fight a waterlogged Z. They sighed in relief when there was no Z but rather a soaking wet 10K in only his underwear. He carried something large and scaly on his shoulders.
They heard more footsteps, dry ones with shoes, further up the dock. They turned to see Doc with a full backpack coated in splotches of black zombie blood. Doc laughed as he yelled down at them, "Swimming in our skivvies, are we!?"
10K shrugged and yelled back, "I caught dinner!"
"What'd you get!?"
"Alligator!"
Murphy and Warren sighed in relief. Warren took a quick glance back at Addy's grey slop through the still-open door. She commented to Murphy, "Alligator, huh?"
Murphy grumbled, looking back at the slop as well, "Beats whatever the hell that thing is."
Doc finally made his way over to the dock. He walked over to 10K and placed his hand on the teen's pale shoulder, "Looks like we're eatin' good tonight," 10K beamed as Doc continued, "Let's warm you up, kid."
Dinner that night was much better than anything they had in the past 2 months. They had made a small fire outside and used it to grill their alligator and dry 10K's wet clothes. With a fully dressed 10K, Operation Bite Mark sat at the rickety table and laughed as they shared their feast with their big family. 10K in the chair to the furthest left of the table. Beside him was Doc. Across from them as Addy, Warren, and Murphy. After the conversations started to settle down. Doc beamed as he had something else up his sleeve. He stood from his chair and announced, "I hope y'all left some room in there. I got us some good old-fashioned booze!"
Murphy chuckled, "No kidding? What'd ya got?"
Doc reached for his backpack under the table. He practically threw it on the table and unzipped it with glee. It was filled with jars filled with clear liquid. He announced, "Moonshine!"
Similar smiles reached all of Operation Bitemark, except 10K; he looked confused.
Doc took quick work is passing out a jar to everyone. Without question, jar lids were popped off, Murphy took a swig of his jar, Warren and Addy clinked glasses before trying theirs, and Doc sipped his. As the others drank, 10K, rolled his jar in his hands. He watched it slosh around. It was clear. The jar was fairly dusty which meant no one had touched it or tampered with it. He could smell it from the other's drinks and could tell it was strong alcohol. It made him question: could he really drink this?
"Hey, 10K."
10K returned from his thoughts and looked up to find Addy. She asked him, "Is something wrong?"
His green eyes return to the unopened jar, "Uh, my dad said I'm not allowed to drink alcohol until, ya know, I can legally. I'm not 21 yet."
"Oh."
Addy shook her head. Of course he was hesitant. She gave him a soft smile, "You're too innocent. I don't think laws like that apply anymore. Have you ever tried to drink before? I know I did when I was a teen."
10K answered, "Once. I got ahold of one of my dad's beers, but he caught me and knocked it out of my hand before I could taste it."
Addy gasped in surprise. She questioned, "You really never drank before?"
The rest of the table finally joined the conversation. Doc laughed, "We get the honors of giving the kid his first drink!"
Warren scolded, "Now, now. He doesn't have to drink it if he doesn't want to."
Murphy teased, "Come on! It'll put some hair on your chest."
Addy added, "Nah. As Warren said, you don't have to drink it."
10K looked back at Doc. Doc said nothing and sipped his own drink. 10K shrugged at him, and faster than anyone could stop him, he popped the lid off the jar and took a big swig. He immediately erupted in coughs.
Doc, who was sitting next to him, sat him on the back, "Don't drink it so fast!"
After he calmed down, 10K tried again, slowly this time. After two sips, he looked down at the drink, "It tastes like sweet corn and rubbing alcohol."
Doc asked him, "Ya like it?"
10K shrugged.
Addy grinned and said, "I can't believe it. His first ever drink and it's one of the strongest drinks out there."
Doc remembered something and quickly advised 10K, "Oh yeah! Don't drink too much of that. We can't have a shitfaced sniper when puppies and kittens start coming around."
But 10K didn't heed his warning and by the next morning, 10K experienced another first: his first hangover. He decided to listen to Doc next time.
