Raymond's Run

Raymond's Run Summary | Detailed Summary

"Raymond's Run" is Toni Cade Bambara's short story about a young girl named Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker and her brother Raymond. Hazel has a couple of nicknames, including Squeaky, because she has a squeaky voice, and Mercury, because she is fast, like quicksilver when she runs.

In the first person point of view, Hazel dictates quite a bit of information about herself, her neighborhood, her brother, and other children as she walks down the street with her brother, Raymond. She is six years old and she loves to run. In fact, she takes her running very seriously and prides herself in being the fastest runner in her age group and in her neighborhood. She admits, however, that her father is the one person who is faster than she is, although, she says that is a secret.

Hazel walks with Raymond, making certain that he stays closest to the buildings. Apparently, Raymond is mentally handicapped, and Hazel has taken on a role as caretaker for him. He is much bigger than she is, but she still refers to him as her little brother. Raymond pretends to be in a circus, walking a tightrope on the edge of the curb, unless Hazel requires him to stay close to the buildings. If he has a chance to walk along the curb, he typically steps in the deepest puddles and messes up his clothes and shoes. IF this happens, Hazel is the one who takes the blame with their mother.

As the siblings walk along the busy neighborhood street, Hazel counts her breaths in groups of seven as she practices breathing exercises that help with her running. She thinks about the other children her age, especially Gretchen Lewis, who believes she is faster than Hazel is. Gretchen believes she will be able to beat Hazel in the upcoming race in which they both plan to participate.

Gretchen confronts Hazel as the two meet along the walk, and Hazel acts tough, as is typical for her. Hazel actually has earned a reputation for being rough and tough with the other kids. Even though she is little, her big attitude helps prevent other kids from teasing her. When the other kids try to tease Raymond for being different, Hazel is there to defend him as well. Gretchen taunts Hazel about the upcoming race, claiming that Hazel is not going to win this year, but she wants to be sure that Hazel has at least signed up for the race.

Indeed, Hazel has signed up for the race, and when the day comes, she arrives just in time to be pinned with her number before the race begins. As she is running, Hazel sees Gretchen in a blur to her side, and Raymond up ahead on the other side of the fence pretending to also run. As the runners cross the finish line, there is some confusion as to how the winner's name will be announced. The slight delay makes Hazel wonder if she did indeed win the race. With these spare moments, she decides that if she had actually lost the race that she would become Raymond's coach and help him to become a fast and serious runner like her.

Finally, the winner is announced, "Miss Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker," with "Miss Gretchen P. Lewis" coming in second place. The two girls smile real smiles at each other, as Hazel thinks that this is one of the few things they have in their lives that deserve real smiles. Hazel is proud that she has won the race, but she is also proud that Raymond has made his first "run" as well.