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heart through the stethoscope, examined his ears and checked out his reflexes. |
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Finally catching on, Matty moved to the door. "Can I have the uniform?" |
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"Sure, but just a couple more things." |
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He handed him a cup and directed him to the toilet for a urine sample. The boy thought about it, then went inside. Meanwhile, Mitch recorded his findings in Matty's folder. The last time he was in was six months ago, the previous December. At that time, as with all the rest, Matty's weight and height were in the fiftieth percentile for his age group. According to the charts, he was on the same height line, but his weight had shot up to the ninety-ninth percentile. In fact, for his height and age, he was off the chartsa hundred and fifteen pounds of dense muscle mass. |
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When Matty returned, Mitch took the sample and put it in a jar. "How about you let me take a look at you?" |
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"What do you mean?" Matty suddenly looked frightened. |
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"Just pop off your shirt and pants. There's just us guys here." |
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"No, that's okay." He moved toward the door. The color in his face had drained. "I gotta go." |
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Terry had said he was adamant about not going to the Emerson clinic. But the change in him was odd. It wasn't doctors the boy was afraid of, it was being seen with his clothes off. |
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"Well, how about just your shirt?" |
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Matty looked hesitant. Maybe he was wondering how far Mitch would push it. First the shirt, then the pants. It crossed Mitch's mind that the boy might have been sexually molested. |
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"It'll take just a minute." |
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"No, you don't have to." Mitch smiled. "But since you're here, it seems like a good idea to check you out." |
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The boy shook his head. "No, that's all right." He had his hand on the doorknob. |
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"Then let me just see how good your throwing arm is, okay?" |
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"No, but, you see that bar?" He pointed to a chrome pipe across the door jamb. "Think you can do a few chinups for me?" |
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