In the first sentence of the story, narrator Squeaky claims that she does not do housework “like some other girls” (Paragraph 1). In what other ways does Squeaky deliberately reject traditional gender roles?

Discuss Squeaky’s sole responsibility, which is to look after her brother, Raymond. What is her approach to this job, and what does it suggest about her as a character?

Compare and contrast Squeaky and her classmate, Cynthia Procter. What do their differences or similarities suggest about Squeaky’s beliefs?