I don't have much work to do around the house. All I have to do is mind my elder brother Raymond. Many people call him my little brother because he's not quite right. Many smart mouths get lots to say that. Whenever this time, I knock them down even if I'm a lite girl. And if things get too rough, I run. As anybody can tell you, I'm the fastest thing on two feet. In my neighborhood, there's a May Day celebration including a race in the park every year. This year I will take part in the fifty-yard race. Everyone has confidence in me, except Gretchen, who has put out the tale that she's going to win the first-place medal.

    Before the race, I take a walk on Broadway so I can practice my breathing exercises, and I've got Raymond walking on the inside of me, because he plays like he's a circus performer. Or sometimes he runs across the traffic. I don't shame on Raymond. It's OK so long as he doesn't run me over or interrupt my exercises, which I have to do because I'm serious about my running.

    Finally comes the race.

    After putting Raymond in the swings, I see Gretchen at the starting line, kicking her legs. As I get into place, I notice Raymond, on the other side of the fence, is bending down with his fingers on the ground just like he knows what he's doing. The gun goes off! I am off and weightless, flying past the other runners, and the world is quiet. I glance to my left. There is no one. To the right, a blurred Gretchen. And not far away is Raymond, yelling at me excitedly and running with his arms down to his side. It's the first time I've ever seen that. I almost stop to watch him. But the white ribbon is bouncing toward me and I tear past it, in the first place.

    Raymond starts climbing up the fence. Watching how smoothly he climbs and remembering how he watched running before, it occurs to me that Raymond will make a very fine runner. Anyway, I've got lots of medals. But what has Raymond got to call his own?

    I stand there with my new plan, laughing as Raymond runs toward me in his own style.