It takes weeks, sometimes months, to grow this large.”

“Five weeks ago, her father told me a walk-in clinic checked her and said she was fine,” I said, pulling the yellow early dismissal slip out of my pocket.

Dr.

Collins looked down at the yellow paper, noting the official school stamp and Daniel’s signature on the line marked emergency sign-out.

He shook his head slowly.

“A walk-in clinic would have felt swelling this size five weeks ago, Mrs.

Mitchell,” Dr.