Schultz was in the living room reading. The boys had gone down to the park to play football and he was enjoying some peace and quiet. Just then, he heard the front door open and close, followed by what sounded like somebody sobbing. Schultz went to the door to find Louis, his face streaming with tears and his arms outstretched, indicating that he wanted to be held. Schultz picked up the 7 year old and cradled him against his chest.
"Calm down now, there's no need to cry. Let's go sit down and you can tell me what happened."
Schultz sat down on the couch with Louis on his lap and his hand supporting Louis back. The boy was still crying, and Schultz had to wait for him to settle down before he was able to say what had caused him to get so upset.
"We were playing football with some other boys at the park," Louis said. "I was the goalie and we were using two rocks as the goalpost. Someone from the other team took a shot and said it went in, but I said it didn't cause it was too high and would have been over if we had a real net. And then he said it went in, and then I said it didn't and then…" Fresh tears sprang from his eyes. "And then he said, 'what would you know about it, you little cockroach.'"
Schultz could feel his face going hot with anger at the boy who did this, but willed himself to stay calm for Louis' sake. "It's okay Louis. Just take some deep breaths. In and out. In and out. Good job, just like that."
Louis looked around fearfully before whispering to Schultz. "Do you think he knew? Do you think he could tell that I'm…" He didn't dare finish his sentence, but Schultz knew what he was talking about. Both Louis and Schultz were Jewish, and had fled from Europe to the United States using false documentation. Despite his young age, Louis knew how severely important it was for him not to tell anyone, but that didn't stop him from worrying that someone would find out.
"Of course not. There's no way he knows. He was just being stupid, that's all." Schultz assured Louis.
"I know you're upset," Schultz continued. "But I think being called a cockroach is actually a compliment."
Louis looked at him like he was completely off his rocker. "How could being a cockroach be a good thing?"
"Well cockroaches are very strong and resilient. They can survive almost anything. If you step on one, even though you're a thousand times bigger than the cockroach is, it will still live."
"What if you stepped on one Schultz?" Inquired Louis. "Would it survive that?"
"Of course it would."
"Even you. But you're so big. You're like the biggest person I've ever seen. You're probably the size of a baby elephant. Maybe even a teenage ele-"
"Okay. okay that's enough about my size." Schulz interrupted. "The point is that we're not going to feel bad about what that boy said, because being a cockroach is like being as strong and resilient as a superhero."
At the mention of being like a superhero, Louis smiled for the first time since he had come back from football. "I guess being called a cockroach isn't so bad when you put it like that."
"That's good. I need help with making lunch. You think you can help me, cockroach." Louis wiped away the last of his tears and nodded. "Sure, this cockroach is a better chef than you anyday."