Raymond's Run Squeaky Quotes

She also gets protective because she is the one to take care of Raymond. When Gretchen asks “‘What grade you in now, Raymond?’" Squeaky’s protective instincts kick in because she doesn’t like Gretchen and she retorts “‘You got anything to say to my brother, you say it to me, Mary Louise Williams of Raggedy Town, Baltimore.’” In this sentence, you can hear how sassy she was being. She didn’t want Raymond to be made fun of, so she stopped the conversation. She knows if something happened to Raymond, she would get in trouble because she is the one who takes care of him and protects him so she put an end to

“Raymond’s Run” is a story by Toni Cade Bambara about an African-American girl known to all as Squeaky who lives in Harlem, New York. Her numerous character traits and values make her very unique and unlike most her age. In the story, Squeaky arrives to the park where the race that she will be participating in will take place. An example of one of her values is, “I squint at him real hard to see if he is seriously thinking that I should lose the race on purpose just to give someone else a break” Bambara (22). This quote shows how much Squeaky values pride and hard work. The example supports the idea of Squeaky’s uniqueness through her values because not many children of that age possess those traits.The character Squeaky from “Raymond’s Run”

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 prides herself at protecting her brother Raymond from other people and being self-confident. This is when she mentions, “… if anybody has anything to say to Raymond, anything to say about his big head, they have to come by me.”(Bambara 26). She takes dignity in herself, in being a very fast runner when she says, “And as anybody can tell you, I’m the fastest thing on two feet.” (Bambara 26). As you can see, Squeaky describes herself as someone who is genuine. When a specific task is difficult for her, she practices and studies. She is never ashamed of the arduous work she has to put in to be successful. Also, when she says, "Now some people like to act like things come easy to them, won’t let on that they practice. Not me” (Bambara 28). In more explanation, she describes herself who doesn’t take shame in showing who she really

Raymond’s Run exemplifies familial love between Raymond and Hazel. Although Hazel may be rather dominating over Raymond’s life, Hazel is simply trying to keep Raymond safe (something something finish this later) Raymond is Hazel’s older brother, although he requires special attention due to his condition. Although Hazel is sometimes annoyed by Raymond’s actions, she is satisfied with just looking after Raymond and Raymond tends to be a daydreamer, as sampled when Hazel is walking down Broadway Street and she mentions how she keeps Raymond on the inside of her because he would pretend the curb is a tightrope and he is a circus performer, and he would occasionally jump into puddles, and when Raymond is on the inside of her he would pretend

Because she saw Raymond running along the sidelines, something sparks inside of her. “Cause if I’ve lost this race, or if me and Gretchen tied… I can always retire as a runner… and coach with Raymond as my champ” (Bambara 111). Squeaky doesn’t care about her win anymore. She is thinking about Raymond’s potential as a runner. Her heart is growing fond at the thought of her brother following behind her footsteps. “My brother Raymond, a great runner in the family tradition” (Bambara 111). This shows that Squeaky is excited for her brother’s future. He is no longer the annoying ‘little’ brother he always was. Now, he is a person with the ability to run like she can. Finally, even after the man announces that Squeaky won, she looks over at Gretchen. There is no longer venom boiling between them. “And I smile. ‘Cause she’s good, no doubt about it. Maybe she’d like to help me coach Raymond” (Bambara 112). There is a newfound respect between the two girls. Gretchen even smiles back. The walls Squeaky spent so long building up are now crumbling down piece by piece as her mind

Gretchen is the “mean girl” of the story, Squeaky stating that “...Gretchen who is, as far as [She’s] concerned, the only one talking in this ventriloquist-dummy routine”(Bambara, 26). Squeaky, on the other hand, seems to be the responsible one in the story, stating that “If anybody has something to say to Raymond...they have to come to [her]” (Bambara,23). Squeaky has to take care of her brother while Gretchen and her friends make fun of Raymond for his disability. Squeeky practices alone and lost her friend to Gretchen, while Gretchen makes Rosie and Mary Louise believe that she was going to win. Gretchen and Squeaky in the story seem to act as opposites, like a yin yang

Another common theme in this story is gender stereotypes, which Squeaky follows and believes, is that girls don’t necessarily get along with each other. In the story, the stereotype presented is that They fight with each other, sometimes alone, and sometimes in groups. That is why it is surprising that Squeaky learns to get along with the antagonist of the story, Gretchen, at the end of the story, as seen in the following quote. We stand there with this big smile of respect between us. It’s about as

One day when Squeaky and Raymond go for a walk down Broadway, they find Mary Louise, Rosie, and Gretchen. When Mary is trying to talk to Raymond, wanting to know what grade he is in, Squeaky says fiercely “you got anything to say to my brother, you say it to me” (41). This shows that Squeaky does not want anyone saying anything to her brother Raymond. Squeaky is also protective of her brother Raymond when people try to talk to him. For example, it says in the story that “A lot of smart mouths got lots to say about that too, especially when George is minding him.

In “Raymond’s Run”, it is clear to see that Squeaky walks through life with heavy weights and worries on her shoulders. Not only does she have to take care of Raymond, but she also has to deal with her mother, who does not accept Squeaky for who she is. Squeaky’s mother brings her down by not supporting her and expecting her to be a typical girly girl. When her mother brings her down, Squeaky develops insecurities about herself. She may not realize it, but the sassy and rude way she treats others is just an act to cover up her insecurities. When she acts like she is better than everyone else, she is just trying to hide the fact that she has so many obstacles that she needs to overcome. Just like Squeaky in “Raymond’s Run”, “She Used to Be Mine”, uncovers the act that Sara Bareilles puts on, and reveals her true self. Both Squeaky and Sara Bareilles have different dimensions and layers to themselves. Squeaky is also similar to a flower bud that blooms into something beautiful. By the end of the story, Squeaky learns to respect Gretchen, and by doing that she is gaining a new perspective on life. When a flower bud opens up, it grows layers of petals. Each petal on the flower is like each of Squeaky’s different personalities. Squeaky is still figuring out her life, and she is constantly learning from her mistakes and growing from them. While the flower grows new petals, the bud in in the center remains the same, like the heart of the flower. This goes to show that even when Squeaky is changing, she still has the same, loving heart. A heart that loves her family. A heart that loves Raymond. A heart that loves

Squeaky cares about her brother, Raymond a lot and she protects him like a mother. Mary Louise comes with her friends to talk with squeaky, and she tells her how she is not fast. Then she tries to ask Raymond something, but Squeaky stops her. “ You got anything to say to my brother you say it to me, Mary Louise Williams of Raggedy Town, Baltimore.”(Bambara 3) This quote explains how much she cares and is very protective. Rosie tries to be mean and asks squeaky, if she was Raymond’s mother. “ Thats right fatso, And the next word out of anybody and I’ll be their mother too.”(Bambara 3) This explains how squeaky could do anything for her brother no matter what.

She says, “I always win cause I’m the best,” to Gretchen, who is competing against her. Which is a very strong statement to say, because what if she didn’t end up winning the race. Probably the reason that most people wouldn’t brag that they are going to win because no matter how much you train there is never certainty that you always will win. Nevertheless she thinks that it is impossible for anyone to beat her at the race, and repeatedly states that she is going to win the race throughout the book without seconding guessing herself. In particular, “ I’m subject to run the quarter-meter relay all by myself and come in first, second, and third”.

One example, on lines 192-200, is when Squeaky explains she “was once a strawberry in a Hansel and Gretel pageant” and “didn’t have no better sense than to dance on tiptoe with my arms in a circle over my head just so my mother and father could come dressed up and clap.” She thinks “they’d know better than to encourage that kind of nonsense.” Squeaky didn’t know enough than to obey her parents by dancing in the pageant, when really she’d much rather run. She doesn’t “dance on my toes. I run.” Being a strawberry wasn’t what she wanted to do, it wasn’t being herself. Now, Squeaky obeys herself and does what she wants to do. This is a great example of what “like being people” means to Squeaky.

Instead of wearing dresses, she wears sweatpants. She is not afraid of being a tomboy. This side of her is a side that she has a tough time showing, as it is only a side that she can show to her mother. Toward the end of the story, Squeaky arrives in the park on May Day and is about to run the race against Gretchen. Raymond is always by her side in the story and is also with her at the May Day races.

She always several breathes which she claims is her favorite number. She used to be friends with a girl named Mary Louise who used to get beat up by everyone until Squeaky put her foot down only because their mothers used to sing together in the same choir when they were younger. Now she hangs out with a girl named Gretchen and talks behind Squeaky's back like a dog. Squeaky is so tough and brave hearted that she is willing to fight both Gretchen and Mary by her lonely.