At the beginning of the story, what does the narrator reveal about her family and her own responsibility in the family? How does she feel about...

Toni Cade Bambara opens her short story “Raymond’s Run” with a description of the family responsibilities in Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker’s home life. Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker, also known as Squeaky, is mainly responsible for taking care of her older, disabled brother. Her mother performs the household chores and does not expect Squeaky to pitch in. Her other brother, George, provides spending money by selling Christmas cards and doing jobs for the “big boys” who exist in their Brooklyn neighborhood. Her father is responsible for anything else the family needs. Each family member has their own responsibilities and Squeaky feels that taking care of her brother is plenty for her since she needs to practice her running and breathing.

This is a rather tradition division of responsibilities that shows how each member of the family makes an important contribution. Although it may be a bit unorthodox for her brother to run errands for the “big boys” it shows that the family is trusted in the neighborhood. Because Squeaky takes care of her brother, her mother performs all of the housework without the need to worry about who is looking after her disabled son. Her father plays an important role by carrying the weight of the other family responsibilities.