Don 'T Be Yourself In The Short Story Raymond's Run'

Squeaky said, “Maybe she’d like to help me coach Raymond; she obviously is serious about running, as any fool can see. And she nosd to congratulate me and then she smiles. And I smile. We stand there with the big smile of respect between us.

When the race is in progress Squeaky sees her brother Raymond on the sidelines and she almost stopped “to watch my brother Raymond on his first run” This shows that she was willing to stop her whole race, ruin a year's worth of work, just to watch her brother Raymond run in his wobble like stance. Now, being able to show that amount of love and compassion is the real win. Even though she doesn’t stop that thought is worth a thousand words. Also, at the end of the race Squeaky is saying “I’m smiling to beat the band cause if I lost, or if me and Gretchen tied, or even if I won, I can always retire as a runner and begin a whole new career as a coach with Raymond as my champion.” This quote really shows the exact moment when Squeaky realizes how much she loves Raymond and that he is more important than any shiny trophy that she could ever get!

I think running is important to her because when the girls tried to embarrass Squeaky and discourage her, on of the girls named Rosie said this: “I don’t think you’re going to win this time.” Though the responding of Squeaky comes out with pride and dignity. She responds this way “ I always win cause I’m the best.” This shows that Squeaky wants to win and she won’t let anyone in her way. Though, Squeaky can’t just say she’ll win and she’ll win.

She is narrating the scene. The author makes it seems that Squeaky wishes her mother were there to cheer her on and also makes it seems that she and her mother are not very close even though Squeaky wants to be close. Squeaky is running this race to prove herself to her family and to Mary Louise, Rosie, and Gretchen to show that she does not need their support. Also, with all the problems with Raymond, this race is her ticket away from all these problems. This race is important to Squeaky because this is the only way she can prove herself to her mom, in a way.

In the story “Raymond’s Run” by Toni Cade Bambara, the main character is Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker, but she is known as or often called Squeaky. Squeaky is a short, skinny, African-American girl who has a squeaky voice, which is how she got her name Squeaky. She is a really fast runner and she thinks that she is the fastest thing on two feet. To say more about her, she had won the track meet in first place many times, ever since she was a little kindergartener who won a twenty yard dash run.

In the story Squeaky tells us that “the big kids call me mercury cause i'm the swiftest thing in the neighborhood”(181). Squeaky is an extremely skilled runner, and she has been winning races since she was little. Not only do people know of her speed, but she likes to show off her training and exercises in public. There is a part in the book where her mom walks away from her on the street because Squeaky is practicing her running form. Another part of the book includes her working on breathing techniques while going down Broadway. Squeaky is very arrogant when it comes to her competition, knowing she will win. She is aware that she is the best and says it multiple times in the story. In the book Raymond's Run Squeaky is incredibly aplomb, not only in her running but in many areas of her

This quote indicates that Squeaky’s mom wants Squeaky to be the stereotypical girly girl. Yet Squeaky knows she will not be able to impress her mom because she is not girly enough. She is a tough runner. Squeaky does not know why her mom is not glad that she is not a typical girl. Like the song “Mean,” Squeaky has multiple mean people around her, and one of them is her own

Finally, Squeaky is overconfident because she claims she is the fastest runner. She states, “As anybody could tell you, I’m the fastest thing on two feet.” She is bragging and saying

Although Squeaky takes pride in her running, she often has to confront conflicts, such as being forced to be something she is not, which results in her experiencing emotional pain. This relates to the song “Believer” by Imagine Dragons when it says:

Squeaky is a girl who has a brother named Raymond, and Squeaky protects him. At the end she won in first place and almost made a friend. In the story “Raymond’s Run,” Toni Cade Bambara teaches the reader that you should care about others, not just yourself. Squeaky had always been protecting Raymond like every day. In the end, Squeaky then becomes opened hearted.

And you can see me any time day practicing running”.(pg.28-29, line 95) Undoubtedly, in this quote Squeaky is showing she is extremely hardworking and will do anything to win or achieve her goal. It also explains how she does not like people who lie about how much they work for something, and she wants to do anything to get to the top. Squeaky’s hard work and aggressiveness helps her get a lot done in life, from defending her brother to keeping out liars from her

In the beginning of the short story “Raymond’s Run” the protagonist Squeaky only cares about herself and no one else. But throughout the story, she learns that caring for others and not just herself can have a positive impact on her life and would change everything. Squeaky is very selfish and want to be the fastest runner, and when everything goes wrong she runs. When she shows up at the races that is when she notices life is not all about her. When Mr. Peterson tells her to throw the race, and give someone else a try she looks at him squinting but not a nice squint.

For most of the story Squeaky is very focused on winning and being the best. One piece of evidence is when Squeaky says, “As long as he doesn’t run me over or interrupt my breathing exercises, which I have to do on account of I’m serious

Squeaky seems she might be the fastest person in her city. Every single track meeting she attends she wins first place medal and

Squeaky realizes that if she gets up running she can study and she can do the spelling bee. Also she realizes that she can do piano lessons from her mom if she gives up running to coach Raymond who she feels is more important than running. “Even if I won, I can always retire as a runner and begin a whole new career as a coach with Raymond as my champion. After all, with a little study I can be cynthia her phony self at the spelling bee. And if I bug my mother I can get piano lessons and become a star”( Bambara