The Power of One

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Peter Philip Keith grew up with a black nanny and her son. P.K. never had any problems or questions about race mixing, nor did he care. All he knew was that they were very helpful and nice people. P.K then goes to attend school away from his mother so that she can get better. But when he is at school he does not understand the logic behind the hatred towards the blacks.
Being the only English boy in an Afrikaans school, P.K. goes through a lot of very nasty bullying by the other boys and especially the oldest, Jaapie Botha. As a result of the endless harassing he starts to wet the bed and becomes very insecure. He then finds out that his mother has died and he goes back to her burial. While he is there his nanny introduces him to Ubolo Menzi who helps him over come his fears and gives him a chicken to inspire his courage. After his visit back home he then finds out that his nanny had passed away and Jaapie Botha has killed his chicken he got from Ubolo Menzi. After loosing three of the most important people in his life he is placed in the care of a German national named Professor von Vollensteen, a friend of his grandfather.
P.K. grows up with Doc as he teaches P.K. how to play the piano and planting cactus. Every day Doc taught P.K. various things that would help him in life, to be a better person. Doc does not try to be biased towards anyone he talks about, especially his point of view of the blacks. Seeing this P.K also does not grow up with any particular reason for black and whites to not be treated equally. “Co-operation is he basis of everything, we could not have moonlight with out the sun.” Doc tells P.K the importance of co-operation; P.K obviously does not forget this and takes it to heart as it further increases is passion for changing the world. After World War One, Doc is placed in prison for failure to register with the English government as a foreigner.
P.K. meets Geel Piet, an inmate, who teaches him to box. “Little beats big when little is smart, first with the head, then with the heart.” Geel Piet says this to P.K after P.K. tells him about the bullies at school. After P.

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