The Memory Keeper’s Daughter: Chapter 10: June 1970 Summary & Analysis

On the east side of Pittsburgh, in a factory that has been turned into a progressive school, Caroline watches six-year-old Phoebe and her other disabled preschool classmates play together with jars of lentils. Doro is visiting, and comments on how alike Phoebe and Caroline’s hair is. Caroline is touched by the comment, even though she knows there’s no way she and Phoebe could have the same hair.

Over the last several years, Caroline’s friendship with Sandra has “grown into a political force.” The women have formed the Upside Down Society, a Down syndrome advocacy group with over 500 members—and a school of their own, as their children are being shut out of public schools. As Caroline remarks that she wishes the Board of Education could see Phoebe and her friends playing, learning, and flourishing together, Doro tells Caroline that she and the other Society members have a “good lawyer” and will come out on top. Caroline is on her way out to go to a hearing at which the Society is arguing that their children should be mainstreamed.  Doro asks Caroline if Al is coming this weekend, and Caroline admits she doesn’t know. Doro teases Caroline about being in love with Al, but Caroline insists they’re “just close friends.”

Caroline drives off in her new car—Leo’s old Buick. Last year, Leo died, and Caroline offered to move out, but Doro encouraged her and Phoebe to stay as long as they wanted. As Phoebe enters the building where she and the others are meeting with the school board, she steels herself for what’s to come.

During the meeting, although the Upside Down Society’s lawyer Ron Stone argues for equity in education and fair opportunities for all children, the Board of Education members maintain that “mentally retarded” children should not be allowed in mainstream schools—they argue that these “retarded individuals” will only “overwhelm the system” and slow normal children down. Ron explains that the Board is being “pejorative” and cruel, but the Board cannot see the special-needs children as anything but “a drag on resources.” Caroline stews in sadness and anger, wishing she could have these people meet Phoebe and show them how beautiful, special, funny, kind, and smart she is.

Caroline stands up and begins speaking out of turn, telling the Board that Down syndrome children “want to learn” just like every other child—and deserve the chance to do just that. When the Board suggests that the most these children can hope to accomplish in life is to one day learn a “productive and useful trade,” Ron Stone pulls out a sheaf of papers and announces he’s filing a class-action lawsuit on behalf of the Upside Down Society. He and the Society parents file out of the room, promising to “be in touch.”

Outside, the other Society parents congratulate Caroline on her brave speech. Caroline feels slightly drained, and thanks them for their support before rushing off to collect Phoebe from school. They drive home together through the beautiful weather with the windows down, and once at home, Phoebe plays on the lawn while Caroline sits on the porch, waiting for Al to arrive. When he walks up to the house, Phoebe shouts in glee and greets him with a big hug. Al has a bouquet of lilacs in his hand for Caroline, and he greets her warmly and asks about the meeting. The two catch up about their weeks, sharing stories and watching Phoebe play.

Al hands Caroline some mail he’s picked up for her from a P.O. box in Atlanta—it is a letter from David Henry, with money enclosed. Al knows that the money is for Phoebe from her father, but Caroline has never told Al the true story of Phoebe’s birth and parentage.

As a song comes on the radio and wafts outside from the house, Al asks Caroline if she’d like to go dancing sometime. Caroline replies, “Why wait,” and invites Al to dance with her on the porch. As they sway back and forth, Caroline thinks about all the times Al has asked her to marry him—and all the times she’s been too scared to say yes. Now, she thinks to herself that if he asks her again, she’ll agree.

The beautiful moment is interrupted when Phoebe begins sobbing and holds up her hand—Caroline can see she’s gotten a bee sting. Caroline runs to Phoebe and comforts her, but soon Phoebe’s sobs turn to wheezes and her hand begins to swell. Caroline realizes that Phoebe is having a reaction, and she and Al hurriedly lift her into the car and rush her to the hospital.

When they arrive, Al lifts Phoebe onto a gurney while Caroline tells a nearby nurse that Phoebe is having a reaction and needs a doctor immediately. When the nurse looks at Phoebe, Caroline watches the woman “taking in” Phoebe’s markedly different face—the nurse then asks if Caroline is “sure” she wants to call for a doctor. Caroline raises her hand to slap the nurse, but Al stops her, and orders the woman to find a doctor.

After a doctor arrives and halts Phoebe’s reaction, Caroline and Al sit together in the waiting room holding hands. Caroline shakily remarks that Phoebe could have died—Al replies that Phoebe is fine. Caroline raises Al’s hand to her face and kisses his palm, grateful now more than ever for his years of patience, love, and support. Al tells Caroline there’s something he wants to ask her—without even hearing the question, Caroline tells Al she will marry him.