RAYMOND'S RUN

© Pearson Education
BEFORE YOU READ: RAYMOND’S RUN
Vocabulary
These words are underlined in the story. Listen to each word. Say it.
Then, read the definition and the example sentence.
signify (SIG nuh fy) v. Signify means represent something.
She nodded her head to signify her agreement.
squint (SKWINT) v. Squint means narrow your eyes to see better.
Tom had to squint to read the sign in the dim light.
congratulate (kuhn GRAT yoo layt) v. You congratulate someone to
show happiness for his or her success.
I stopped to congratulate Laura on her wonderful performance.
Vocabulary Practice
Read the first sentence in each group of three. Then, complete
Sentence a by substituting another word or phrase that means the
same as the underlined vocabulary word. Complete Sentence b with
your own ideas and words.
1. The teacher closed the book to signify the end of class.
a. The teacher closed the book to the end of class.
b. The teacher closed the book to signify .
2. Luke had to squint to see the lights in the distance.
a. Luke had to to see the lights in the distance.
b. Luke had to squint .
3. I wanted to congratulate the winner.
a. I wanted to the winner.
b. I wanted to congratulate .
Getting Ready to Read
The brother of this story’s narrator has Down syndrome. People who have
Down syndrome develop mental and physical skills more slowly than
other people. By developing a special talent, people with Down syndrome
can achieve their full potential. What talent do you think the narrator
will help her brother develop? Discuss your predictions with a partner.
Raymond’s Run 17
1UNIT

MAKING CONNECTIONS
Writing
THE
THE BIG BIG
About the Big Question
18 English Learner’s Notebook
Raymond’s Run
Toni Cade Bambara
Summary Squeaky is the fastest
runner in her class. She cares for
her “not quite right” brother Raymond.
She protects him from teasing and
from getting hurt. During the annual
May Day races, Squeaky learns
lessons about herself, a runner
named Gretchen, and Raymond.
Is the truth the same for everyone? In “Raymond’s Run,” the narrator
discovers that winning a race is not the most important thing in her
life. Complete this sentence:
Before happened, I used to think that
was important. After it happened,
I observed that .
Note-taking Guide
Use this chart to record the order of the four most important events in
the story.
Beginning Event
Squeaky and
her brother
Raymond run
into a group of
girls whom
Squeaky does
not like.
Final Outcome
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© Pearson Education
Raymond’s Run
Toni Cade Bambara
Squeaky is a confident, sassy young
girl who lives in Harlem in New York City.
Squeaky has to take care of her brother
Raymond, who is “not quite right.” She boldly
protects Raymond from kids who try to tease
him. Squeaky loves to run races, and she is
the fastest runner in her neighborhood.
♦ ♦ ♦
There is no track meet that I don’t win the
first place medal. I used to win the twenty-yard
dash when I was a little kid in kindergarten.
Nowadays, it’s the fifty-yard dash. And tomorrow
I’m subject to run the quarter-meter relay all by
myself and come in first, second, and third.
♦ ♦ ♦
This year, for the first time, Squeaky has
some serious competition in the race, a new
girl named Gretchen.
♦ ♦ ♦
So as far as everyone’s concerned, I’m the
fastest and that goes for Gretchen, too, who has
put out the tale that she is going to win the firstplace
medal this year. Ridiculous. In the second
place, she’s got short legs. In the third place,
she’s got freckles. In the first place, no one can
beat me and that’s all there is to it.
♦ ♦ ♦
Squeaky takes a walk down Broadway
with Raymond. She is practicing her
breathing exercises to get in shape for
the race. Raymond is pretending to drive
a stage coach.
Squeaky works hard to be a good runner.
She dislikes people who pretend that they
do not need to work hard to be good at
something.
Then, Squeaky sees Gretchen and two of
her friends coming toward her and Raymond.
TAKE NOTES
Vocabulary Builder
Adjectives An adjective is a
word that describes a person,
place, or thing. For example, in
the sentence She is the fastest
runner, the adjective fastest
describes the noun runner. On
the lines below, write three more
adjectives you fi nd in the fi rst
paragraph.
Fluency Builder
Read aloud the second
paragraph on this page to
yourself. As you read, remember
that Squeaky is confi dent about
her running abilities.
Vocabulary Builder
Contractions A contraction is
a shorter form of a phrase. An
apostrophe (’) appears in place
of the missing letters. In the
phrase so as far as everyone’s
concerned, the ’s is a contraction
of is. What contractions appear
on this page? Write each
contraction and its longer
phrase.
Raymond’s Run 19

TAKE NOTES
Vocabulary Builder
Idioms Hang out is an idiom that
means “spend time with.”
Complete the following sentence
by replacing hang out with other
words:
Mary Louise now
Gretchen.
Vocabulary Builder
Slang The verb whupped is
slang for “beat or defeated
an opponent.” Complete the
sentence, using the word
whupped.
Squeaky knows that she has
Fluency Builder
Read the fi rst sentence of the
bracketed paragraph. Work with
a partner to break it into four or
fi ve shorter sentences.
Read aloud the new sentences
to make sure that they have
the same meaning as the long
sentence.
20 English Learner’s Notebook
.
One of the girls, Mary Louise, used to be
Squeaky’s friend. Now she hangs out with
Gretchen and does not like Squeaky anymore.
Rosie, the other girl, always teases Raymond.
Squeaky considers going into a store to avoid
the girls, but she decides to face them.
♦ ♦ ♦
“You signing up for the May Day races?” smiles
Mary Louise, only it’s not a smile at all.
A dumb question like that doesn’t deserve an
answer. Besides, there’s just me and Gretchen
standing there really, so no use wasting my
breath talking to shadows.
“I don’t think you’re going to win this time,”
says Rosie, trying to signify with her hands
on her hips all salty, completely forgetting that
I have whupped her many times for less salt
than that.
“I always win cause I’m the best,” I say straight
at Gretchen who is, as far as I’m concerned, the
only one talking in this ventriloquist-dummy 1
routine.
Gretchen smiles, but it’s not a smile, and I’m
thinking that girls never really smile at each
other because they don’t know how and don’t
want to know how and there’s probably no one
to teach us how cause grown-up girls don’t know
either. Then they all look at Raymond who has
just brought his mule team to a standstill. And
they’re about to see what trouble they can get
into through him.
♦ ♦ ♦
Mary Louise starts to tease Raymond,
but Squeaky defends him. Gretchen and
her friends leave, and Squeaky smiles
at her brother.
The next day, Squeaky arrives late at the
May Day program because she does not want
1. ventriloquist-dummy A ventriloquist (ven TRI luh kwist) is a person who can speak without moving his
or her lips. The ventriloquist usually has a puppet called a dummy that he or she controls.
© Pearson Education

© Pearson Education
to see the May Pole dancing. She thinks it is
silly. She arrives just as the races are starting.
She puts Raymond on the swings and finds
Mr. Pearson, a tall man who gives the racers
their numbers.
♦ ♦ ♦
“Well, Squeaky,” he says, checking my name
off the list and handing me number seven and
two pins. And I’m thinking he’s got no right to
call me Squeaky, if I can’t call him Beanstalk.
“Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker,” I correct him
and tell him to write it down on his board.
“Well, Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker, going
to give someone else a break this year?” I squint
at him real hard to see if he is seriously thinking
I should lose the race on purpose just to give
someone else a break.
♦ ♦ ♦
Mr. Pearson suggests that Squeaky let
Gretchen, the new girl, win the race. Squeaky
gets mad and walks away.
When it is time for the 50-yard dash,
Squeaky and Gretchen line up with the other
runners at the starting line. Squeaky sees that
Raymond has left the swings and is getting
ready to run on the other side of the fence.
Squeaky mentally prepares herself to win
and takes off like a shot, zipping past the
other runners.
♦ ♦ ♦
I glance to my left and there is no one. To
the right a blurred Gretchen, who’s got her chin
jutting out as if it would win the race all by itself.
And on the other side of the fence is Raymond
with his arms down to his side and the palms
Everyday Words
jutting (JUT ing) adj. sticking out
TAKE NOTES
Vocabulary Builder
Idioms To give someone a break
means to give that person a
chance. Mr. Pearson asks
Squeaky whether she will give
someone a break because
Comprehension Builder
Predict who will win the race
between Squeaky and Gretchen.
Explain your answer.
Vocabulary Builder
Idioms The idiom takes off means
“leaves in a hurry.” Complete the
following sentence:
Squeaky takes off because
Raymond’s Run 21
.
.

TAKE NOTES
Vocabulary Builder
Multiple-Meaning Words The
word tear can mean “pull apart
or rip.” Another meaning of tear
is “move or act quickly.” Read the
underlined sentence. Which
meaning of tear is used?
Vocabulary Builder
Idioms To catch my breath is an
idiom that means “to stop so
that I can control my breathing.”
When might you need to catch
your breath?
I might need to catch my breath
Fluency Builder
With a partner, read aloud the
paragraph that begins “And it
occurs to me . . .” Change the
tone of your voice as you speak
to show that you, like Squeaky
in the story, are getting excited
about the idea of coaching
Raymond.
22 English Learner’s Notebook
.
tucked up behind him, running in his very own
style, and it’s the first time I ever saw that and I
almost stop to watch my brother Raymond on his
first run. But the white ribbon is bouncing toward
me and I tear past it, racing into the distance till
my feet with a mind of their own start digging up
footfuls of dirt and brake me short.
♦ ♦ ♦
Squeaky believes that she has won the
race, but it turns out that she and Gretchen
crossed the finish line at almost the same
time. The judges are not sure which girl is
the winner.
♦ ♦ ♦
And I lean down to catch my breath and here
comes Gretchen walking back, for she’s overshot
the finish line too, huffing and puffing with her
hands on her hips taking it slow, breathing in
steady time like a real pro and I sort of like her
a little for the first time. “In first place . . .” and
then three or four voices get all mixed up on the
loudspeaker and I dig my sneaker into the grass
and stare at Gretchen who’s staring back, we
both wondering just who did win.
♦ ♦ ♦
As Squeaky waits to find out whether she
has won, Raymond calls out to her. He starts
climbing up the fence. Suddenly, Squeaky
remembers that Raymond ran the race too,
on the other side of the fence.
♦ ♦ ♦
And it occurs to me, watching how smoothly
he climbs hand over hand and remembering
how he looked running with his arms down to
his side and with the wind pulling his mouth
back and his teeth showing and all, 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
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© Pearson Education
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.
♦ ♦ ♦
Squeaky gets very excited about the
idea of teaching Raymond to be a champion
runner. She wants him to have something
to be proud of. Raymond runs over to her,
and she jumps up and down with happiness
because of her plans to help him.
♦ ♦ ♦
But of course everyone thinks I’m jumping up
and down because the men on the loudspeaker
have finally gotten themselves together and
compared notes and are announcing “In first
place—Miss Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker.”
(Dig that.) “In second place—Miss Gretchen P.
Lewis.” And I look over at Gretchen wondering
what the “P” stands for. And I smile. Cause
she’s good, no doubt about it. Maybe she’d like
to help me coach Raymond; she obviously is
serious about running, as any fool can see.
And she nods to congratulate me and then she
smiles. And I smile. We stand there with this big
smile of respect between us.
TAKE NOTES
Vocabulary Builder
Idioms To beat the band is an
idiom that means “to the
greatest amount possible.” How
would you describe Squeaky as
she is “smiling to beat the band”?
Comprehension Builder
Summarize the relationship
between Squeaky and Gretchen
before and after the race.
Raymond’s Run 23

AFTER YOU READ
24 English Learner’s Notebook
Thinking About the Selection
1. Squeaky is a confident person who is very protective of her brother.
How does she show these qualities? Write your answers in the
chart below.
2. After Squeaky sees Raymond run, she wants to
A Good Friend? Do you think that Squeaky would make
a good friend? Discuss with a partner the parts of Squeaky’s
personality that would make you want to be her friend.
Squeaky would make a good friend because
Would You Be Her Friend? Write more about your own
opinion. You may think that Squeaky would make a good friend in
some ways but not in other ways. If so, write about both.
I think that Squeaky
Confident Protective
Squeaky shows that she is confident when
.
Squeaky shows that she is protective of
Raymond when
.
.
.
.
© Pearson Education

© Pearson Education
VOCABULARY SKILL REVIEW
Idioms
An idiom is a word or phrase that has a different meaning from the
dictionary definitions of the words. Sometimes you may be able to
understand the meaning of an idiom by its context. Other times you
will need a dictionary.
Examples
Now You Do It
Write a sentence using each idiom from the chart above.
1. take a break
2. read between the lines
3. catch on
4. heart of gold
Idiom Meaning
take a break rest for a short time
read between the lines find a hidden meaning
catch on understand or learn something
heart of gold kind, generous, friendly
Guessing Game Select one of the idioms from the chart
above. Describe to a partner something that fits the idiom. Do not use
the idiom in your description. Have your partner guess the idiom from
your description.
What Do You Mean? Write a sentence using the words
in the idioms on this page literally and then as an idiom. For example,
you could write “I needed to take a break so that I would not break the
vase when I take it to Tina.”
Raymond’s Run 25

1UNIT
BEFORE YOU READ: A RETRIEVED REFORMATION
Vocabulary
These words are highlighted in the story. Listen to each word. Say it.
Then, read the definition and the example sentence.
rehabilitate (ree uh BIL uh tayt) v. To rehabilitate means to bring
back to normal or good condition.
Her apology was the first step in an effort to rehabilitate herself.
retribution (re truh BYOO shuhn) n. Retribution is punishment for
doing wrong . or a reward for doing good.
The accident victim wanted money from the other driver as retribution.
perceived (puhr SEEVD) v. When something is perceived, it becomes
became
known through one’s senses.
He had not perceived his error until it was too late.
Vocabulary Practice
Read the first sentence in each group of three. Then, complete
Sentence a by substituting another word or phrase that means the
same as the underlined vocabulary word. Complete Sentence b with
your own ideas and words.
1. It took him months to rehabilitate his leg after the accident.
a. It took him months to his leg after the accident.
b. It took him months to rehabilitate .
2. He demanded retribution after the driver dented his car.
a. He demanded after the driver dented his car.
b. He demanded retribution .
3. She bit into the apple and perceived that the fruit was ripe.
a. She bit into the apple and that the fruit was ripe.
b. She bit into the apple and perceived .
Getting Ready to Read
A reformation is an improvement that is made by changing something.
The main character of this story decides to reform his life by ending his
career as a thief. What reasons do you think a person might have for
reforming his or her life? Discuss your ideas with a partner.
26 English Learner’s Notebook
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© Pearson Education
MAKING CONNECTIONS
A Retrieved Reformation
O. Henry
Summary Jimmy Valentine leaves
prison and plans to go back to
robbing safes. But he falls in love
and decides to become honest.
He changes his name and opens
a store. A detective shows up to
arrest Jimmy for recent robberies.
However, Jimmy’s actions show
that he has changed.
Writing
THE
THE BIG BIG
About the Big Question
Is truth the same for everyone? In “A Retrieved Reformation,” a
former thief tries to re-invent the truth about his life. Complete this
sentence:
People form opinions of others based on
Note-taking Guide
Use this character web to describe Jimmy Valentine’s character.
slick
Jimmy Valentine
A Retrieved Reformation 27
.

AFTER YOU READ
28 English Learner’s Notebook
Thinking About the Selection
1. One of the first people Jimmy sees in Elmore is Annabel Adams.
How does seeing Annabel change Jimmy? Write your answers in
the chart below.
Before Jimmy sees Annabel, he . . . After Jimmy sees Annabel, he . . .
2. Ben Price pretends not to know Jimmy because
Can People Change? Jimmy has been disobeying the
law for a long time, but he plans to stop. Do you think that people like
Jimmy can change their ways? Discuss your thoughts with a partner.
People like Jimmy can change because .
People like Jimmy cannot change because .
What Do You Think? Write more about your opinion.
You may think that people like Jimmy can change only in certain
situations.
I think that people like Jimmy
.
.
© Pearson Education

© Pearson Education
VOCABULARY SKILL REVIEW
Multiple-Meaning Words
Multiple-meaning words are words that can have several meanings,
depending on their use in a sentence.
Examples
bat (noun) small, blind mammal
(noun) wooden or metal club used to strike the ball in baseball
break (verb) interrupt temporarily or stop an activity
(verb) become damaged or to cause damage
Now You Do It
Read the sentences below. On the lines provided, write the meaning of
the underlined word.
Charlie took a practice swing with the bat.
Nina watched the bat flying through the trees.
To break the silence, Braylon laughed loudly.
Be careful not to break the vase!
Guessing Game With a partner, take turns saying aloud
sentences that use the words from this lesson in different ways. Then,
guess the meaning of the word based on the way it is used in each
sentence.
Write a Story Use the multiple-meaning words from
this lesson to write a funny short story. Use each word in as many
ways as you can. Underline the words each time that you use them.
A Retrieved Reformation 29