NovelEnglishKane waved dismissively. "No worries. I'm not that into clam chowder." "But..." Ramona started to protest, but Rocky had already slurped down the clam chowder and scampered back to his seat, grinning from ear to ear.
Ramona's face turned paler, her grip tightening on her fork.
In the afternoon, they had P.E., where they were learning to fence.
William paired up with Rocky.
When William lunged with his foil, Rocky clutched his stomach and fell onto the ground.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtKane jumped, thinking Rocky was pulling one of his pranks. The kid loved practical jokes.
"That's sbad acting, buddy. | aimed for your chest, not your belly," said Kane.
Groaning, Rocky was sweating. "My... My stomach hurts, ouch!" The coach sprinted over and rushed him to the school infirmary.
After an examination, Rocky turned out to have bacterial poisoning, and the dorm supervisor rushed him to the hospital.
Soon after, Rocky's parents arrived in a frenzy.
They had visited on the weekend, taking Rocky out for fun. He must have eaten something dodgy, leading to the bacterial infection.
If it had been the school cafeteria's fault, other kids would've shown symptoms, too. But they were fine, so external contamination was the likely culprit.
Nevertheless, Pinnacle Ivy League School had a reputation to uphold. Its students were the cream of the crop, so the administration ordered comprehensive inspections of all dining facilities for good measure.
The next day, the school doctor called for Skyler to cto the lab after biology class.
"Mr. Heninger," the doctor began, "when | tested Rocky's blood yesterday, | found sunusual bacteria, so | cultured it. Could this be ssuperbug?" Skyler was a Ph.D. in microbiology specializing in microbes.
He peered into the microscope and stiffened. He recognized the bacteria from a case he'd once studied from a patient abroad.
"This is indeed a superbug, originating from the Ganges. We've never seen it stateside." The doctor was stunned. "How did Rocky get infected?" Skyler replied, "I remember Rocky mentioning his dad had been overseas recently. Maybe he has accidentally brought the bug back." The doctor quickly reported the situation to the principal, who decided to disinfect the student dorms, especially Rocky's room, and quarantine his roommates temporarily.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmWith kids' weaker immune systems, another infection would be disastrous.
Skyler had a treatment method for the superbug and advised the doctor to coordinate with the hospital to provide a treatment plan.
At lunch, Skyler mentioned the incident to the students.
"Mr. Heninger, how is Rocky doing? Is he going to die?" asked Ramona, visibly worried.
Skyler gestured reassuringly. "He'll be fine soon. Luckily, I'm familiar with this bacteria and know how to treat it." Ramona sighed in relief. "Mr. Heninger, you're amazing." William raised an eyebrow smugly. "Skyler's a Ph.D. in microbiology, you know." Skyler scratched his head. "I guess | know a little more than the average Joe." Kane ate his lunch thoughtfully.
He remembered the clam chowder from yesterday.
Mira had got poisoned after eating the cotton candy meant for him.
After eating, he pulled Skyler aside.
"Skyler, how soon does this superbug take effect?" Skyler explained patiently, "This superbug multiplies rapidly. It might take about a day in adults, but kids could show symptoms within hours."
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