Daisy Finch, a teacher, burst in and grabbed my arm. Her face was chalk-white.
"Dr. Fox! It's the cafeteria. The students—they're vomiting, having seizures. You need to come now!"
I let her pull me along.
The cafeteria was a scene from a nightmare.
Teachers had cleared the unaffected students, but a dozen children lay scattered across the floor. They clutched their stomachs. Groaned. Retched. One boy's legs twitched uncontrollably, his eyes rolling back.
Caroline stood frozen in the corner, her face drained of color, wringing her hands.
I assessed the room in seconds. Food poisoning. Severe.
"Call 911," I ordered Daisy. "We need ambulances. Now."
"No!" Caroline shrieked.
She jumped in front of Daisy, blocking her path.
"Don't call! They just... they just ate too fast! It's just an upset stomach. Sister-in-law, just give them some medicine, right?"
I looked at her as if she were a cockroach.
"Caroline, are you brain-dead? Look at them. Over a dozen students are in critical condition. Even a miracle worker couldn't fix this with a pill."