Raymond's Run - Summary

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Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker, a young African-American girl, also known as Squeaky because of her voice, is tough and arrogant. She says to her enemy, Gretchen, "I always win cause I’m the best" (Bambara 77). This shows that she is arrogant and rude to others. She also challenges Gretchen and her sidekicks by saying, “That’s right, Fatso. And the next word out of anybody and I’ll be their mother too” (Bambara 77). Here she shows that she truly is tough and she is not just talk. The girls back away in fear, too intimidated to respond to her challenge. This story is narrated by Squeaky, whose main responsibility in her family is taking care of Raymond, her mentally disabled older brother. She explains that many people insult Raymond, referring to him as her “little brother,” but she tries to hold herself above the taunts (Bambara 75). Squeaky is the fastest runner in the neighborhood, which motivates her and held a reputation. She is preparing for a fifty-yard dash for the May Day races. Though she has always won this race, she is now facing a new rival, Gretchen P. Lewis. Squeaky explains that she runs everywhere, and does breathing exercises to stay in shape. Unlike her classmate Cynthia Procter, who pretends that she does not study, Squeaky does not mind if people know how hard she works to be successful. Throughout the story, Squeaky challenges conceptions of femininity by refusing to wear dresses or dance around the maypole, as well as by running and doing breathing exercises in front of other people. This behavior is unpleasant to her peers and to her parents, but Squeaky is committed in expressing her femininity in her own way. This kind of relationship also develops at the end, when Squeaky resolves her differences with Gretchen. Although Squeaky does not discover much in common with Gretchen, her concern for Raymond encourages her to try and find common
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