Outcasts and rejects, pt 2

 In the previous installment, we talked about those with mental illness who are distanced from acceptable society. But there's a contingent of people on this island who aren't mentally ill, but still aren't accepted by their families or welcome to participate normally in island functions.

This contingent consists of those who have broken relationships with their family for some reason. 

There was a man whose death awhile back caused quite the stir in town. Why? Because he died alone, and was dead long enough before being discovered that his body had started to decompose. In island culture, this is abhorrent. The man had children -- why weren't they making sure he had food? He had siblings -- why weren't they checking on him? The broken relationship with his family seemed more a topic of conversation than his actual death or its cause.

Then there's a woman who came to our island to give birth. She seemed pretty young, but said her husband was on the island that she came from. She was sent here to give birth, then returned to her own island afterwards... and where did the baby end up? (The likely story is that the family didn't want people to know she was pregnant and unmarried, so they sent her away until afterward and gave the baby to someone else to raise.)

Then there are those who for some reason have created distance from their family. Quite a few islanders from the villages live in the city for work, but they intentionally maintain closeness in their family relationships. When a family member comes to town, they host them. When there are things that the family wants bought in town they buy it and send it to the village. When there are holidays they go visit, and they'll often take a week off of work in order to be there for weddings.

But not every islander maintains those relationships. Maybe there was a fight and they have distanced themselves. But relationships with distance here don't tend to do well. And a person who doesn't maintain their family relationships from a distance will find themselves with problems when they need help later. Having a wedding? The family is essential. Needing money for a medical need or to travel? Again, family.

And islanders sometimes talk about this distance, but often the fact that they don't talk is what's telling. Is there a family member that's mysteriously missing? A man who doesn't visit his mother? A girl who "was married" at some point but the details are never given? All of these point to broken relationships and a person who can't just live in community like everyone else.