Which excerpt from “raymond's run” best shows that squeaky admires people who are serious about doing their best? he can beat me to amsterdam avenue with me having a two-fire-hydrant head start on him running with his hands in his pockets and whistling. but that’s private information. ‘cause can you imagine some thirty-five-year-old man stuffing himself into pal shorts to race little kids? he wins before he even begins by psyching the runners, telling them they’re going to trip on their shoelaces and fall on their faces or lose their shorts or something, which he doesn’t really have to do since he is very fast, almost as fast as i am. 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. so i stand there with my new plans, laughing out loud by this time as raymond jumps down from the fence and runs over with his teeth showing and his arms down to the side, which no one before him has quite mastered as a running style.

The best option seems to be letter C) 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.

Explanation:

Squeaky, whose real name is Hazel, is the narrator-character in the short story "Raymond's Run" by author Toni Cade Bambara. Hazel, even though very young, is determined to do her best at every activity she pursues. Her favorite one is running, and she is constantly practicing. One of Hazel characteristics is admiring people who do their best while despising those who pretend not to care. Gretchen is the new girl in school. Hazel does not like her for her cocky attitude. The fact that a former friend of Hazel's now hangs out with Gretchen does not help either. Still, when the two of them finally race against each other, Hazel discovers she respects Gretchen. She admires her professionalism, the way she runs, the way she breathes. Hazel likes people who care enough to do things properly. This is the first time she feels she likes Gretchen:

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.