Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker tells "Raymond's Run" in the first person point of view in the conversational tone of a six-year-old girl. As the story begins, she seems to resent the fact that she has to watch over her brother who is mentally disabled. However, by the end of the story, she has proven to be a dynamic character, changing into someone who is proud of her brother and hopeful about his future.

Running symbolizes an escape from the harsh realities of Hazel's life. She is poor and she lives in a city that is likely polluted and crowded. For her, running is the one thing she can do where she feels like she matters. She stands out among the crowd when she runs, because she is the fastest kid in her neighborhood. As Hazel focuses her attention on running, her attention is drawn away...