So far we’ve come to learn about the outskirt dwellers. The outskirt is home to Tommy, Jack, and Mrs. Fiducia and the others, but the reason they lived outside of any of the cities remains a mystery. However, we got a little insight after the late-night dinner with Jack, his son Tommy, at Mrs. Fiducia’s humble dwelling.

As you recalled, at the end of the meal, she asked Jack to help her bring down the dessert from the rooftop, this was her way of protecting Thomas as she would call Tommy, from the news which wasn’t a good news. The happening of this occurred while Jack and Tommy were out in the badlands shuffling through the waste, for items to trade with others in the outskirt.

This was what we last read:

She stood in the doorway waiting for him, walking out together, she closed the door while looking back, and making sure all was well with Thomas at the table. Jack was a tall man, there stood Mrs. Fiducia looking up at him, he knew something was on her mind, more than a dessert. He was right. Then she said to him; they were spotted earlier. Instinctively he knew what she meant.

​

Before the outskirt became a community of dwellers, it was a place of constant assaults of raids and attacks.

• Who were the attackers?

• What was the reason of attacking people who had almost nothing?

• Where did they come from?

• Were they all the same people, but with different lives?

• Who were victims of the raids?

• Is this why Mrs. Fiducia is without a family?

• What became of those who fell victims to the raids?

All of these cannot be answered now, but we will gain an insight through a short discussion among a few broken men, broken they were, and hurt and separated from their family. Who are these men, were they taken from the outskirt through one of the raids? Are they related to any of the main Characters we have come to be familiar with?

A bit from their discussion:

After hours of silence, for these men and boys were broken, they were broken of hope knowing they failed to defend freedom. The freedom they so cherished in their part of their world. Now, they must be a part of another world, a world wherewith they are the conquered.

Still uncertain of what the future holds, yet without the desire to look forward. Their reality of their past with friends and families was uncertain as well. No longer was their life a reality, but all seems like a dream that was abruptly ended.

Soon was the silence broken by Buscar:

They live their high lives, we live on the outskirt, we are what we are because we have always been. They chose to gain success by any means, even without moral values and the regard of the past. But for us? We are successful when we hold close to our hearts the values of what made us who we are and our families. Yet they called us ignorant and inferior. Why are we here? Why are they taking us to be a part of their grand life? They need us, but we don't need them!

A mumbling sound came from the left of the boxcar. They need a few of us to strengthen them, but they are better, or we won't be here, the talk continues, but the voice diminishes as if all hope was being drawn out of him, being left with despair of insanity, the mumbling continues . . .

For a previous reading of the story, navigate to the Book section of the site and scroll down to the blue book, AMERIHOLLOW. Or click the title in this paragraph for the direct link.

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