Answer: She takes her responsibility to look out for Raymond seriously.
Explanation:
Squeaky does not think that girls smile at each other genuinely.
It is a fascinating idea. Squeaky seems to be saying that she and the other girls her age don't grin at each other genuinely.
Squeaky does not feel a relationship with anybody her age, especially girls. Especially, she is frustrated because she has no close female friends. While she acts brave, it is evident to the reader it causes distress for her.
For Squeaky, a smile is related to trust and respect. She trusts and respects Raymond because she trusts and respects him. As soon as the race was over, she was stunned by the results, understanding Gretchen, finally realizes to respect and trust Gretchen, making them smile at each other. Now, she thinks of Gretchen as a friend.
