Raymond\'s Run by Toni Cade Bambara What

¶ … Raymond's Run" by Toni Cade Bambara [...] what Squeaky learns in the story, and how her life will be different because of her experiences in the story. Squeaky learns many things in "Raymond's Run," from dedication and perseverance to how to gain respect. Squeaky is wise beyond her years in many ways, so some lessons are beyond her. However, her most important lesson is really about friendship, and how real friendship is not based on fear, but on respect and mutual ideals and goals.

Hazel or "Squeaky" is a girl with an attitude who takes care of her "not right" brother Raymond, and exudes confidence. She says "no one can beat me and that's all there is to it" (Bambara 21). However, this confidence, and her overprotective attitude about Raymond do not win her many friends. She learns dedication and perseverance can lead to success. She says Raymond's playing is OK "as long as he doesn't rune me over or interrupt my breathing exercises, which I have to do on account of I'm serious about my running" (Bambara 22). She learns that practicing like this helps her maintain her number one spot, and that people respect her more when she wins. However, respect is not all there is in life. Squeaky needs to find friendship too, because besides Raymond, she is basically alone in the world.

Squeaky is in many ways older than her years, and wiser, too. She can look at people, and see through them. She says, "Rosie... is too stupid to know that there is not a big deal of difference between herself and Raymond and that she can't afford to throw stones" (Bambara 22). This is adult thought from a little girl, and she shows that she understands human nature and people a lot more than many people of her age. She has grown up fast because she has the responsibility of Raymond, and it is a big responsibility for a young girl. She also knows about the realities of being poor, which also add to her aura of age and maturity. She knows she is "a poor Black girl who rally can't afford to buy shoes and a new dress you only wear once a lifetime cause it won't fit next year" (Bambara 23). This aura of maturity is interesting, but it also drives away friends and family, because she has an air of superiority that goes along with her maturity, and she also is more ready to fight than to talk, as she says and demonstrates often in the story.

The most important lesson Squeaky learns is about friendship and respect, and those two lessons will change her life. Wondering if she's won the race, she realizes anything is possible to her. She thinks, "I can always retire as a runner and begin a whole new career as a coach with Raymond as my champion" (Bambara 26). When she wins, she smiles at Gretchen, and wonders about her as a person for the first time. "I look over at Gretchen wondering what the "P" stands for. And I smile" (Bambara 26). Squeaky learns about friendship and respect as she opens herself up to friendship with Gretchen, and admits that she respects her. Friendship and mutual respect go hand in hand, and it is an important and valuable lesson for Squeaky, who has mistrusted people throughout the story. This lesson will change her life, because it will make her more open to others. It will also allow her to develop real and lasting friendships that are based on trust and respect, and this is something she has not had in her life. By winning, but having stiff competition, she has also learned that there is more to life than running, or being the best. She has learned that there are many possibilities open to her, and that if she puts her very strong mind to it, she can do anything she wants, even win the spelling bee. That is an important lesson that will do her well in life.