"Like a Train Passing in the Night:".
The Influence of Short-Lived Relationships.
In Bryce Courtenay's The Power of One, Peekay receives guidance and advice from many people. His contacts with some people are shorter in duration than those with others. The most influential figures in Peekay's life are those with the most transient time period in which to leave significance. These influential people trust Peekay with their advice because they either do not know enough about Peekay to discriminate against him, or they wish to live vicariously through Peekay. .
Although Peekay is only in his custody for a couple of days, Hoppie Groenwald leaves an enormous impact on Peekay's life. Hoppie gives Peekay "the power of one [ ] a defense system, and [ ] hope"(103). Before his encounter with Hoppie, Peekay is bullied in boarding school due to his race and his small size. Hoppie teaches Peekay that size is not the most important factor in defeating an opponent. Since Hoppie is to be sent off to war, he educates Peekay in boxing as if he wishes to pass on his unfinished business. Encouraged by Hoppie, Peekay decides that he wishes to be a boxer and that he will do whatever it takes to become, as Hoppie calls him, "the next contender"(101). Similarly, Geel Piet contributes greatly to Peekay's boxing career. In addition to teaching Peekay the fundamentals of boxing, Geel Piet teaches Peekay the "Liverpool Kiss"(219). The "Liverpool Kiss" helps Peekay defeat several of his opponents, such as bullies at his school, which elevates his status among his classmates. Though Geel Piet instructs Peekay through many fights, he dies before Peekay becomes an adult and misses most of Peekay's major boxing career. However, Geel Piet is determined to teach Peekay everything he knows about boxing due to his inability to use his knowledge with his weak physical state and his race. In addition, Big Hettie influenced Peekay with her knowledge of morals and of love.
