My Teacher Dad Traded Me In

I did not even make it to the med wing when I caught the sound of my colleague's voice, all twisted up with frustration.

"Look, mister, we're not trying to be difficult. However, this Dr. Shane Johnson you keep asking about, he's not on our roster."

Yale's voice was getting all sharp and edgy.

"Quit covering for him! He's the one who took my blood yesterday, and all those nurses at the check-up center saw it!"

I pushed the door open and stepped in, and Yale's eyes practically sparkled. "Ah, there you are!"

My colleague was totally caught off guard. "Him? He's the new..."

However, Yale cut him off quickly. "Exactly! I knew it, he's the newbie! Just look at my arm, it's a mess!"

He yanked up his sleeve to show off the angry, swollen mess where he got the shot, all dotted with little bumps.

"It hurt like heck when he stuck me, and when I whispered a complaint, he just jammed the cotton ball into my wound on purpose! Got it all on camera!

"Now I can't even bend my arm, and it's messing with my teaching and grading. If that's not a medical mishap, I don't know what is."

I saw right away it was just an allergic reaction, probably something Yale cooked up to pin on me.

My colleague took a deep breath, trying to keep it together. "Alright, let's get you checked out first, then we can talk about what comes next, deal?"

Yale hastily yanked his sleeve down and shook his head with fierce determination.

"Look, I'm not here to cause trouble. I've got just two things to ask.

"First off, that doctor who doesn't know what he's doing? He needs to be put on leave, pronto.

"Second, my kid's got this weird sickness that no one can figure out. Word is, your new guy, Dr. Cunningham, is top-notch. I want him in my son's case, as the lead doctor.

"I've already reported this to the state health folks. If you don't give me a straight answer, I'm not stopping here. I'll take this as far as it needs to go, even to court if I have to."

My colleague's eyes went wide for a second, like he was trying not to crack up.

I just stared back, cool as you please.

"Come on, you're a professional. Making a scene like this; Isn't it a bit beneath you?"

Yale's eyes darted around, his resolve flickering.

"It's for my boy! It's worth any price!"

I remembered back in middle school when my teacher thought I was dating too young and demanded my parents come in. However, neither my dad nor my mom wanted to face the music, too embarrassed.

I ended up on the ground, tears streaming down my face.

"Dad, I swear I didn't do anything. Can't you just talk to her for me?

"If you don't show, she's just gonna get madder."

He slapped me hard across the cheek. "Serves you right. Should've behaved.

"Getting yelled at is your problem, not mine."

That whole day, I was barred from class, cornered in the office by the other parents and teachers, all of them telling me off.

Then, there he was, ready to swallow his pride, but not for me.

I snorted softly. "The dean's on his way. Just wait for him to get here."

Killing time, I picked up the papers Yale slammed on the desk and thumbed through them.

Josh's symptoms were a dead ringer for the hormone disorder I was studying, and he was already slipping into a coma. Time was running out, and death was knocking at the door.

If we did not step in soon, the guy would not make it more than a couple of weeks.

I was just about to take a closer look at the papers when Yale grabbed them out of my hands.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing? Can you even understand that? That's for Dr. Cunningham, so don't mess it up."

I did not even notice the dean, Paul Harris, walk in.

"Dr. Cunningham? Isn't he the one you're after?"