In Raymond's Run by Toni Cade Bambara, discuss the aspects of the story's plot.

Toni Cade Bambara plunges the readers into two days of
Hazel Parker’s life in “Raymond’s Run.” The story is an upbeat portrayal of Harlem where
the author herself lived. 

The setting of the story is
Harlem in the 1970s.  The narration is first person with the protagonist “Squeaky” Hazel
Parker the narrator.  The quality of Bambara’s writing that enthralls the writer comes
from  the idiomatic language used by the
characters. 

Exposition

The
story introduces the narrator Squeaky as a young black girl with attitude.  As she walks
down the street in Harlem with her  mentally challenged brother Raymond, the reader
learns that Squeaky’s main responsibility is to take care of the brother.  She guards
him continually from going into the street and jumping into the gutters.  While she
walks, Squeaky prepares for the May Day Race that she has won for several years.    In
the neighborhood, she is known as “the fastest thing on two
feet."

Rising
Action

The narrator and her brother come
upon her rival Gretchen and Squeaky’s former friends. Gretchen, new to the neighborhood,
potentially could beat Squeaky.  One of the ex-friends begins to tease Raymond; 
sharp-witted Hazel quickly retaliates and avoids a confrontation with the
girls. 

Intensifying the
action

The next day is the race.  Mr.
Pearson, one of the teachers, knows Squeaky.  He starts to write down her entry form
with the name Squeaky.  Hazel insists that he write down her full name instead: Hazel 
Elizabeth Deborah Parker.  She does not appreciate his teasing when he implies that she
ought to let someone else win this year.  

Squeaky places
her brother in a swing while she runs the race.  She thinks to herself that next year
Raymond would not fit into the swings. 

readability="9">

I put Raymond in the little swings, which is a
tight squeeze this year and will be impossible next year. Then I look around for Mr.
Pearson, who pins the numbers on.  I ‘m really  looking for
Gretchen...

Climax

Racing
envelops Squeaky.  The race begins, and the race is over before she knows it.  Her body
took her past the finish line.  Gretchen ran hard as well.  Neither girl is sure who won
the race. 

The announcer comes over the speaker and says
that Hazel Parker won, with Gretchen coming in second.

Falling
action

Raymond gets Squeaky attention by
rattling on the fence like a gorilla in a cage who wants out. She observes him and
wonders how good a runner that Raymond would be since he is able to keep up with her
when she races.  She can always retire from running and coach
Raymond. 

Resolution

Gretchen
and Hazel see each other after the race.  This time they exchange real smiles. 
Typically, Squeaky ends with the idea that maybe instead of practicing being flowers at
the May Pole, they should do something like learn how to be respectful
people.

Literary
devices

Allusion

The
kids in the neighborhood also call Squeaky the name “Mercury.” This is an allusion to
the Roman god of speed. 

Simile

“I’ll
high-prance down 34th Street like a rodeo pony.” In one of Squeaky’s visions, she sees
herself marching down the street as though she is fancy pony that someone would ride in
the parade.

A theme found in the story concerns the
treatment of the mentally challenged.  Children do tease Raymond.  Squeaky’s approach is
to try to threaten them back or attack them. Obviously, parental intervention would help
both Squeaky and the kids who tease Raymond.