Louis Menéndez

**Luisito "Louis" Blau** (1896 -) (née; **Levi**) is the tritagonist of *Flock'⁴⁴*, Louis was surviving Levite and Holocaust survivor and uncle of Jonah De la Uziel and Ellie Levi.

## Etymology

* "**Luisito**" is a diminutive form of the Spanish name Luis. Luis is derived from the Germanic name Hludwig, which is composed of the elements "hlud" meaning "fame" and "wig" meaning "warrior." Luisito carries the same meaning but in a more affectionate and diminutive form.
* "**Louis**" is the English variant of the French name Louis, which ultimately comes from the Germanic name Hludwig. It shares the same etymological roots as Luisito. Louis also means "fame" and "warrior."
* "**Blau**" is a surname of German origin. It is derived from the German word for "blue." Surnames such as Blau often originated from nicknames given to individuals based on their physical appearance or occupation. In this case, it was the surname of Luisito's wife, Sarah who was Spanish half-German American who had blue eyes and had half-German origins.

## History

Luisito "Louis" Abreu, born in 1896 and raised in New York, America, came from a Catalan-Sephardic background with a Levite bloodline. His father was Rebbi patriarch Levi, while his mother, Anne Abreu, was a Spanish Sephardic-Jewish Chicago native. Unfortunately, Luisito was considered a "bastard" child at the time of his birth, and he had an estranged relationship with his half-elder brother, Sr. Levi. He spent his childhood in Chicago, raised by his mother and her family, as his birth father was not present in his life from the age of four, Luisito's mother, Anne, suffered from bipolar disorder, and his grandfather believed that her illness posed a danger to him. As a result, she was sent to a mental institution, and Luisito had to learn to support himself at a young age. Despite these challenges, he displayed remarkable street smarts and even harbored a dream of becoming a doctor from the age of nine. He wanted to shield himself from the horrors of the world and the struggles he faced. To make ends meet, he took on various jobs in local shops, often earning over $15 per day through hard work, At the age of 11, Luisito received news from his grandparents that his birth father wanted to visit him. He would spend summers in France meeting his birth father, further complicating his relationship with Sr. Levi.

When World War I broke out, Luisito, at the young age of 18, joined the French forces. During his time in the army, he befriended a 13-year-old French boy named Sebastian. Luisito acted as a brother figure to Sebastian, but sadly, Sebastian went missing in battle. After returning home from the war, Luisito pursued his dream of becoming a doctor. He attended college and graduated as a medical doctor. He later worked as a school doctor in a high school in New York City, where he resided, During his time as a doctor, Luisito developed a relationship with a math teacher named Sarah Blau. Sarah was of Spanish and half-German American descent. They grew close and, during a private moment on Armistice Day, Luisito proposed to Sarah, and she accepted. They married and moved to France, where Sarah opened a local clinic. Luisito worked as a doctor in French schools as a substitute. Sarah and Luisito had their first child together but unfortunately experienced the heartbreak of a miscarriage, which caused immense stress for Luisito. Seeking guidance and solace, he turned to his trusted Rebbi, seeking forgiveness and a second chance for his wife.

In 1927, Amélie Dumas, an affluent actress and the wife of Charles Dumas, a French billionaire and government official, sought help for her four-year-old daughter, Marguerite, whom she believed was suffering from polio. Marguerite's condition caused her to feel paranoid and stressed, often becoming nervous around Louis, the doctor who examined her. Louis, with a friendly smile, tried to alleviate her anxiety by giving her some of his colorful work papers to use for drawing. Amélie and Marguerite stayed at the clinic for three days, during which Amélie fervently prayed for her daughter's well-being, To their relief, Louis determined that Marguerite did not have polio. Amélie expressed her gratitude, and Louis gifted Marguerite a teddy bear, using jokes to make her laugh. Amélie then requested Louis to become the family doctor exclusively for Marguerite. Louis agreed, and he and his wife, Sarah, were invited to a local family reunion, where they would meet Charles Dumas. Nervously introducing himself, Louis shared the successful treatment he provided to Marguerite and his Jewish community. Despite Charles's Christian nationalist and antisemitic views, he appreciated Louis's efforts and gave him half a million to support his clinic. However, Charles's prejudices remained evident. Despite this, Louis continued to visit the Dumas family, providing ongoing assistance to Marguerite, while Amélie remained supportive of the Blaus.

During the Great Depression in Europe, Louis and Sarah's clinic faced the threat of bankruptcy. Adding to their worries, Sarah discovered she was pregnant. Sarah wanted to find a job to prevent bankruptcy, but Louis insisted on taking care of her and the baby himself. In a desperate situation, Louis reached out to his half-eldest brother, Sr. Levi, for support. Although Sr. Levi sent some money, they needed more, especially with Sarah's pregnancy. Unfortunately, Sr. Levi refused to provide further assistance, leaving Louis and Sarah to face the challenges alone. Seeking help, Louis turned to the Dumas family, reuniting with thirteen-year-old Marguerite, In the 1930s, France continued to grapple with the effects of the Great Depression. Sarah continued working at the clinic, while Louis focused on serving both the Jewish and non-Jewish communities in Paris. He used his position as a doctor to establish connections with government officials, ensuring support for his patients. In 1936, Louis and Sarah welcomed their second child, a son named Sebastian, named after a French boy Louis had befriended during World War I. On Sebastian's fifth birthday, Louis gifted him a bicycle to teach him how to ride. As Paris began to recover, the Blaus became well-known among the Parisians, particularly within the Jewish community, due to their medical expertise and commitment. They remained dedicated members of the Parisian streets, serving the Jewish community.

## Surviving Holocaust

As France fell under Nazi occupation, the capital city of Paris was taken over as well. In these challenging times, Louis, a father trying to shield his eight-year-old son from the horrors of the war, found himself faced with a difficult situation.

One evening, as they gathered around the television, news of the Kristallnacht incident unfolded before their eyes. Louis quickly realized the impact this news could have on his young son, so he swiftly changed the channel, diverting his attention to something less distressing. He knew that shielding his child from the harsh realities of the Nazi regime was necessary to preserve his innocence and protect his fragile spirit.

However, fate had a different plan for Louis and his family. As they walked down the streets of their once vibrant city, they unexpectedly encountered Nazi officers. These officers, fueled by their hatred and bigotry, demanded that Louis and his family paint a large Star of David on their clinic. Their intention was to mark them as targets, to further marginalize and isolate the Jewish community.

Fear gripped Louis's heart as he contemplated the consequences of refusing the officers' orders. The threat of violence loomed heavily over him, and the safety of his family weighed on his mind. With a heavy heart, he made the agonizing decision to comply with their demand, agreeing to paint the Star of David on their clinic.

Returning home that evening, a sense of despair settled upon the family. They knew the risks they faced under the Nazi regime were increasing with each passing day. Their worst fears were soon realized when they were captured by Nazi soldiers and forcibly taken to a death camp.

In the darkness of the camp, hope flickered like a dying flame. Louis and his son were separated from the rest of their family, facing the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust. The days were filled with anguish, pain, and the constant struggle to survive. But against all odds, through sheer determination and a will to live, they managed to endure.

Their survival was a testament to their resilience and the strength of the human spirit. They witnessed unspeakable atrocities but managed to hold onto their humanity amidst the darkness. Eventually, the war came to an end, and Louis and his son emerged from the camp, battered and scarred, but alive.

Their survival became a beacon of hope, a reminder that even in the face of unimaginable evil, the human spirit can endure. They carried the weight of their experiences with them, forever changed by the horrors they had witnessed. But they also carried with them a determination to never forget, to ensure that the world would never again witness such atrocities.

Louis and his son became living testaments to the resilience and strength of the human spirit, a reminder of the power of love and the will to survive in the face of unimaginable darkness.