The four groups of people
| |||||||||||
Garbonians
These are very handsome people. Their eyes especially are attractive. They seem about three sizes larger than ours and at least two sizes farther apart with thick, dark eyelashes. Their very full eyebrows sometimes grow clear across the bridge of their noses, which give the women especially an appealingly seductive appearance. Their noses are straight and well proportioned and they are usually blessed with slightly oversized mouths with full, sensuous lips. Men often wear a pencil-thin moustache.
Except for the "problems" with their hair, they appear to be a well-adjusted species, although, perhaps, somewhat overly self-confident.
Even though they have every reason to be self-confident and emotionally secure, they seem always worried that other people do not “respect them.” Frequently, they take offense to some comment, and even though the other person meant no disrespect whatsoever, they "get even" with a sarcastic reply, which leaves the other person both confused and not a little offended. Garbonians take physical fitness very seriously and love to “work out” with weights. They eat mostly fish or fowl instead of “red meat,” (broiled or baked of course), and whole wheat bread, brown rice, and organically grown vegetables. For some reason, however, they do not consider BBQ ribs or fried Sniglet chops to be unhealthy or even classified as red meat. Especially if served with milk gravy or fried okra.
Garbonians are the leading athletes of Chaladon and are prominent in all fields that require physical strength and coordination. Men work very hard to maintain their physical fitness. Many run several miles every day, whipping themselves with leather whips as they force their bodies to run further and faster. "Flogging" on a daily bases is nearly an obsession for many Garbonians. The other races unanimously consider such a thing to be the work of lunatics.
Women are not such fanatics about physical fitness, and as they grow older, most women seem to lose interest in exercise. Many display a great fondness for sweets and chubbiness is quite common by age forty.
Garbonian are very proud of their brown skin color and are enthusiastic sunbathers. Skimpy bikinis and topless swimsuits are not frowned upon.
They also excel in the fields of entertainment and design, and they consider themselves leaders of cultural and artistic tastes, an opinion that is not fully shared by the other races.
Men favor polka dot or boldly striped shirts in bold colors with very full sleeves, also halfway unbuttoned. Their low-cut trousers are plain-colored silk in a color to match the background of the shirt, tightly fit around the waist and buttocks, but with very full legs, which fit tightly around the ankles. For formal attire, men prefer ivory colored "Nehru jackets" with less fully cut brown silk trousers. Women wear their usual sort of jump suit in more subdued collars, buttoned almost to the neck. Over this jump suit, they wear a form-fitting, unbuttoned vest, which drapes to mid-thigh, usually in subdued, ivory-colored brocade.
Garbonians at home prefer quiet evenings with friends where they play a card game similar to our Contract Bridge, without even polite argument over the results. (Husbands and wives only quarrel between themselves after the guests have gone home.) Another favorite activity is a quiet gathering of friends over cocktails where everyone stands around without saying anything of importance.
Life is very "serious and cultured” for Garbonians. When they go out for an evening, it is usually for elegant dining in a rich atmosphere, followed by an evening at the theater or a musical performance. In a restaurant, they almost always order watermelon for dessert, which they enjoy very much, and they are very careful about spitting the seeds into a hankerchef rather than on the floor.
Garbonians are highly intelligent, creative people who tend to take themselves a little too seriously. They rarely “joke around” with others, and in fact, when others tell jokes or humorous stories, they never seem “to get it,” even worrying sometimes that the story was in some way at their expense. Naturally, no one in Chaladon believes that a Garbonian has a sense of humor. Garbonians are completely honest and always keep their promises, but this admirable trait is flawed somewhat because they worry so much about others keeping their promises, that sometimes they behave as if the other person has already broken his word. This can be very irritating. Garbonians also are quick to take the side of anyone who seems to be physically or economically disadvantaged and they expend considerable efforts to help such people, which does seem a little strange because they rarely associate with poor or handicapped people. Additionally, when Garbonians do perform charitable works, they always seem a little too eager to take credit for their efforts. Boys are usually given masculine names such as Dirk, Flog, Snok, Curd, and less frequently, Leroy. Girl's are usually given double names and then called by a nickname. Very popular names are Toddle Faye, (Tooty), Tissy Poo, (Tiffy), Boogar May, (Boogy), and Sniggy Doo, (Sniffy).
| |||||||||||
 | |||||||||||
 | | | | | | | | | | | |
