Albert “Al” Simpson Character Analysis in The Memory Keeper’s Daughter

Al is a kindly trucker whose chance meeting with Caroline Gill on the fateful night of Phoebe’s birth transcends time and distance, and eventually blossoms into a romance and marriage. Al is patient, steadfast, and devoted to both Caroline and Phoebe. Though Caroline constantly worries that Al will become frustrated by Phoebe or the demands she makes on Caroline’s time, Al is nothing but supportive, and he has an enormous amount of love for both Caroline and her daughter.

Albert “Al” Simpson Character Timeline in The Memory Keeper’s Daughter

The timeline below shows where the character Albert “Al” Simpson appears in The Memory Keeper’s Daughter. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...for the company of this man, whose name, she learns as they drive on, is Albert Simpson, or Al. Caroline is doubly grateful that Al knows nothing about her—or her precarious... (full context)

Back at her apartment complex, Al helps Caroline bring her things inside from the truck. She can see one of her... (full context)

In the morning, Caroline wakes to the smell of bacon frying—Al is making breakfast in the kitchen. Phoebe is still asleep, and Caroline makes small talk... (full context)

...when he opens his mouth and calls out to her, she realizes who it is: Al. Surprised, shocked, but not unhappy to see him, Caroline asks Al how he managed to... (full context)

Al explains that after he stopped in Lexington to say hello and found Caroline’s apartment empty,... (full context)

Caroline invites Al in to have a cup of tea and see Phoebe. He sits in the kitchen... (full context)

...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... (full context)

...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... (full context)

Al hands Caroline some mail he’s picked up for her from a P.O. box in Atlanta—it... (full context)

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... (full context)

...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. (full context)

When they arrive, Al lifts Phoebe onto a gurney while Caroline tells a nearby nurse that Phoebe is having... (full context)

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... (full context)

...that Caroline, Phoebe, and their extended family are celebrating to day: Phoebe’s confirmation, Caroline and Al’s wedding anniversary, and Doro’s retirement—she is leaving soon to travel the world with her new... (full context)

...Phoebe that Doro is allergic, and Phoebe’s mercurial temper threatens to explode. To calm her, Al suggests they get the kitten a dish of cream. As they walk away together, Caroline... (full context)

After Doro and Trace leave, Caroline and Al sit together on the porch, and Caroline tells Al that Doro has given them the... (full context)

Al tells Caroline that Phoebe is growing up—she’s thirteen, and soon she’ll want more independence. Al... (full context)

Caroline says that she wants to talk to Al about a letter she received this week—a letter from Phoebe’s father. Caroline describes the letter,... (full context)

...her loom through the downstairs window. She thinks about the life they’ve built together with Al—and is surprised to see him, too, through the window. He’s come home early from a... (full context)

...Norah—but at the last moment, as he approached the house and saw Phoebe, Caroline, and Al through the front window, he knew he couldn’t disrupt their family. He got back in... (full context)

Caroline is riding the bus with Al, Phoebe, and Phoebe’s boyfriend Robert—another boy with a developmental disability who joyfully greets all the... (full context)

At their stop, Caroline realizes that Al has nodded off. She shakes him awake, and they all disembark the bus. Caroline expresses... (full context)

At the day center, the dance is in full swing. Al and Caroline join Robert and Phoebe on the dance floor. Phoebe spends time at the... (full context)

...that people are allowed to kiss the ones they love—she points out that Caroline and Al kiss often, and reminds Caroline that she wants to marry Robert. Caroline tells Phoebe that... (full context)

That night, at home, Caroline tells Al about her conversation with Phoebe. They fret about what to do about her burgeoning sexuality... (full context)

Al reads the letter, and suggests the two of them go together to the firm to... (full context)

In the morning, Caroline makes breakfast for her and Al. He suggests the two of them try taking a trip alone soon, leaving Phoebe with... (full context)

...Phoebe home. When they arrive, the phone is ringing. Caroline picks it up—and learns that Al has driven off the road and been involved in an accident. He is in the... (full context)

Al comes home after two days in the hospital. He is a terrible patient, and as... (full context)

...they’re for, he tells her that it’s Saturday—she realizes that Saturday is usually the day Al comes home from his long haul, with flowers and a gift in hand. Caroline realizes... (full context)

Caroline hears Al calling for her, and goes up to check on him. She asks him how his... (full context)

...cake, and “lots and lots of pink flowers.” Paul thinks of Phoebe’s parents, Caroline and Al, who have left her here for the weekend while they take their first real vacation... (full context)