Krystal109
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« on: January 27, 2010, 10:28:16 AM » |
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Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Chapter 14: Alba, An Introduction
Written by Krystal
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 (Henry is 38, Clare is 40)
Henry is in the Surrealist galleries at the Art Institute of Chicago, in the future, when he observes a small class of children looking at Joseph Cornell’s work. When the teacher finally calls on the avid little girl in the back, who gives a searing answer on Cornell’s work, the teacher thanks her for her comment by name and Henry realizes it’s his Alba. She notices him and jumps up to greet him affectionately. The teacher comes over to inquire as to who he is and states that Alba’s father is dead. Henry is speechless and Alba explains that he is a CDP, Chrono-Displaced Person. Henry asks if he can talk with Alba but the teacher is hesitant so Alba calls Clare.
After a quick conversation between Clare and Henry and Clare and Ms. Cooper, Henry and Alba walk hand in hand toward the entrance. Alba thanks Henry for the videos on picking locks and he learns that he dies when she is five. Alba talks about reading and playing violin, her teacher being Richard DeTamble, and they talk about Alba time traveling.
Outside Henry waits impatiently for Clare to arrive, knowing his time is coming to an end. As Clare runs to him he starts to disappear but not before saying he loves her.
7:20 p.m. Friday, August 24, 2001 (Clare is 30, Henry is 38)
Clare waits for Henry’s return, afraid to go into labor when he’s not there. She is starving and decides to go to the Opart Thai Restaurant instead of wait around. After dinner she heads home where Henry frantically opens the door. Clare hadn’t left a note and Henry was afraid she had gone into labor without him. She laughs stating that now he knows how it feels and they head inside where Henry tells Clare all about meeting Alba, what she looks like, her time traveling, but leaves out the part about him dying.
Characters Involved
Henry DeTamble
Alba DeTamble
Ms. Cooper
Clare Abshire DeTamble
Mr. Panetta
Characters Mentioned
Richard DeTamble
Annette Lyn Robinson
Dr. David Kendrick
Ingrid Carmichel
Places Visited
Art Institute of Chicago
Henry and Clare’s House
Opart Thai Restaurant
Memorable Quotes
Henry: I am blown away by her answer. This is a ten-year-old who can empathize with Joseph Cornell. (Page 372)
Henry: She turns and smiles gratefully at the teacher, and I see her face, and I am looking at my daughter. (Page 373)
Henry: “I’m Henry DeTamble, Alba’s father.”
Alba: “He’s my daddy!”
Ms. Cooper: The teacher is almost wringing her hands. “Sir, Alba’s father is dead.” (Page 373)
Clare: “When are you from?”
Henry: “2001. Just before Alba was born.” I smile at Alba. She is leaning against me, holding my hand. (Page 374)
Henry: He’s a CDP, like me. Oh, shit. “You time travel.”
Alba: “Sure.” Alba smiles happily. “Mama always says you and I are exactly alike. Dr. Kendrick says I am a prodigy.” (Page 376)
Clare: “Oh, my god. I’m jealous. But wow.”
Henry: “Yeah. She was about ten. Clare, she is so amazing – she’s smart and musical and just…really confident and nothing fazed her…”
Clare: “What does she look like?”
Henry: “Me. A girl version of me. I mean, she’s beautiful, she’s got your eyes, but basically she looks a lot like me: black hair, pale, with a few freckles, and her mouth is smaller than mine was, and her ears don’t stick out. She hand long curly hair, and my hands with the long fingers, and she’s tall…. She was like a young cat.” (Page 380)
Questions for consideration:
What did you think of the scene in which Henry meets Alba for the first time?
Why do you think Henry left out the fact that he knows he’s going to die when Alba is five?
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