All that five thousand kids lived in those five thousand houses, owned by guys that got off the train. The houses looked so much alike that, time and time again, the kids went home by mistake to different houses and different families. Nobody ever noticed.
The quote illustrates the monotony and uniformity of the lives of children in a desolate environment, where thousands of kids reside in identical houses. Each house is owned by individuals who have recently arrived, emphasizing a transient community that lacks strong personal connections. This scenario leads to confusion, as the children often return to the wrong homes without anyone realizing the mix-up.
This situation suggests a deeper commentary on the absence of individuality and the blurred lines between personal identities in such a community. The repeated mistakes of the children going to the wrong houses reflect a loss of family bonds and the indistinguishable nature of their surroundings, highlighting a sense of isolation amidst so many lives seemingly intertwined.