Milkweed

When people hear that Himmler is coming, they gather on the street. Misha runs down to see fancy cars parading down the street, but only the Flops pay attention. Misha starts calling to the men in the cars, asking them if they’re Herr Himmler. Nobody responds, except for a scrawny man with thick glasses. Misha can’t believe that’s Himmler. He asks to see Himmler’s boots, sure that they would be the most impressive boots of all—but then he’s knocked down by a Flop’s club.

The Flop holding the club is a fat man named Buffo, who’s infamous in the ghetto. He loves tormenting Jewish children by suffocating them in his huge belly. Since Buffo always chews mint leaves, a dead child’s body always smells of mint after Buffo kills them. Though Buffo hates Misha most of all, Misha can’t help teasing him, calling him Fatman and running away. But today, Buffo pins Misha’s foot with his boot and laughs. Misha finally manages to free himself and get away. Later, he and the other boys laugh about the close call, but Uri smacks him hard and warns him not to bait Buffo.