The McClellan family is absenting the story even though the house still goes through its routines as if they are there. What happened to them? Cite your evidence.
I believe that the McClellan family is dead,vaporized by a nuclear bomb on the side west of the house. This is the reason why ," The entire west face of the house was black which meant it was burned." Another hint is,"at night the ruined gave off a glow." On page 169.
Quote #2 " The entire west face of the house was black, save for five places..... The silhouette in paint of a man mowing a lawn. A woman bent to pick flowers.... A small boy with hands flung into the air to catch the ball." On page 169.