School days were usually marginally quieter at the clinic than the weekends, the patients usually kids whoâd convinced their parents to give them the day off - and no amount of silent pleading would ever make Mitch play along with their phony self-diagnosis - or speedsters whoâd sped just a little bit too carelessly around the playground at recess. It was something of a custom, then, to deal with unimpressed parents who looked like theyâd rather be anywhere else.
As he headed into the waiting room to call his next patient, he was at least partially relieved to find that there were only two pairs waiting around, one of which - the one he assumed was next - looking far less annoyed than the other. âCassie? Youâre up, kiddo,â he smiled as convincingly as he could, offered the girlâs father a respectful nod, âItâs just a check-up and a shot, if Iâm not mistaken. That sound right to you, Dad?â It was a good idea, Mitch had found over the years, to get the parents involved in little ways, make them feel like they had more control over their childâs care than they really did. Still, Alex seemed calm enough, even if he did stick out like a sore thumb in the suburbs.
@blue-eyed-devilsâ












