in Chapter 3 Ishmael writes, “I realized that it is the physical presence of people and their spirits that gives a town life”. What prompts him to observe this? How old is he at the time?

Ishmael is referring to the man who had all his fingers chopped off except for his thumbs. The RUF did this and called it "one love" to mock the reggae term for togetherness. The man's fate sent most of the villagers to hide in the forrest. Khalilou asked the boys to stay in town with his family. This is when Ishmael notices how empty the place is. He notes that it is the people that give a town its life.