Squeaky is proud of her ability to stand up for brother, even though it is sometimes difficult.

Raymond is Squeaky’s older brother, but she calls him her little brother sometimes because of his mental age.  Her role in the family is to take care of Raymond.

All I have to do in life is mind my brother Raymond, which is enough. …  But as any fool can see he’s much bigger and he’s older too. But a lot of people call him my little brother cause he needs looking after cause he’s not quite right.

Squeaky is fiercely protective of her brother.  Even though he is big, he does not always know what is happening.  He is “subject to fits of fantasy” and needs to be watched carefully in case he dashes into traffic.

It is clear that Squeaky gets teased at school by some kids about Raymond.  She calls this a “big mouth.”  The following exchange demonstrates her commitment to standing up for Raymond.

And they’re about to see what trouble they can get into through him.

“What grade you in now, Raymond?”

 “You got anything to say to my brother, you say it to me, Mary Louise Williams of Raggedy Town, Baltimore.”

Mary’s rejoinder is to ask Squeaky if she’s his mother.   

Squeaky’ s greatest passion in life is running.  When she discovers that Raymond can run, she is excited.  She realizes that it is a way she can reach him.  She can coach him in running, and it is a way that others can relate to him.  He can finally compete with other kids on an equal playing field, and beat them.  She can still run of course.  Training Raymond to run allows Squeaky to enjoy what matters to her and share it with her brother too.