who has the biggest imapct on Juniors life

There are quite a few characters that influence Junior's life. I might consider the character of Rowdy. Rowdy is Junior’s best friend since childhood; they are exactly the same age. However, unlike Junior, Rowdy is strong, tough, and angry. He frequently resorts to violence to deal with his emotional issues because he is the victim of an abusive and alcoholic father. Sometimes Rowdy even abuses Junior. Junior, however, defines himself and his life through the lens of his relationship with Rowdy. Junior becomes both empathetic as well as critical about the way Rowdy conducts himself. In many ways, Rowdy's life becomes a cautionary tale for Junior.