Toni Cade Bambara, author of "Raymond's Run" probably chose this as her title because even though the story is about a girl named Squeaky and her running, Squeaky realizes that Raymond is quite good as a runner, too. Squeaky starts out thinking mostly of herself and what she can do, but as the story continues, she begins to mature and notice some things happening around her. At first she just wants to compete, and she...
Toni Cade Bambara, author of "Raymond's Run" probably chose this as her title because even though the story is about a girl named Squeaky and her running, Squeaky realizes that Raymond is quite good as a runner, too. Squeaky starts out thinking mostly of herself and what she can do, but as the story continues, she begins to mature and notice some things happening around her. At first she just wants to compete, and she practices constantly, so that she can keep her title as the best runner on the block. She argues with Gretchen and Gretchen's friends and doesn't like any of them.
By the end of the story, Squeaky sees that Gretchen is a pretty good runner and has thoughts that maybe the two of them can be friends. More importantly, Squeaky sees her brother, Raymond, with new eyes.
"...it occurred to me that Raymond would make a very fine runner. Doesn't he always keep up with me on my trots? And he surely knows how to breathe in counts of seven 'cause he's always doing it at the dinner table, which drives my brother George up the wall. And I'm smiling to beat the band 'cause if I've lost this race, or if me and Gretchen tied, or even if I've won, I can always retire as a runner and begin a whole new career as a coach with Raymond as my champion" (Bambara 12).
This run, that had seemed so important to Squeaky in the beginning, has helped her to see that Raymond is talented and a runner, too.
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