After the first formal dance the five friends had attended, the one with the black suspenders had to move, and this meant the four remaining friends still wore different colored suspenders, shirts and ties. This time, they only had red, green, blue and white among them.

Also, each of them went with a girl to the dance, one of them taking Dartam. One of them, Azdam, one of the people going with the one of the four friends, is talking about what she should wear so that she doesn't clash with the person that is taking her to the dance. The only thing she knows about him is he will be wearing white suspenders. She gets on the phone with someone else (Zablon) to ask some questions about what everyone will be wearing.

Azdam: So what will everybody be wearing?
Zablon: I know that nobody will wear two or more of the same color. For example, the person who is bringing you wouldn't wear a white shirt or tie because it might clash with his white suspenders.
Azdam: I still don't understand this clashing rule.
Zablon: Well... One of my friends is being taken by the guy wearing red suspenders. He's wearing a green tie instead of a red one so that it won't clash with his red suspenders.
Azdam: Ok, I see...
Zablon: Some people have developed preferences this year. For example Bastam decided she isn't going with anyone wearing anything green, and Cagram decided she isn't going with anyone wearing anything blue.
Azdam: What about the men?
Zablon: Well, Forgam and Golkam don't like to wear red or blue shirts. Golkram also doesn't like to wear blue ties either.
Azdam: Do you know anything else? I feel silly only knowing that the person who is taking me to the dance will be wearing white suspenders.
Zablon: Don't worry! A friend of mine who is being taken to the dance by Epotram only knows that he will be wearing red suspenders. I found that out when I was talking to her about Cagram breaking up with Holdram. I learned that Holdram isn't going to take Cagram to the dance because of this.
Azdam: Ok, well I have to get off the phone... Bye!
Zablon: Bye!

After Azdam only knew this info, she wondered who was taking her to the dance, and what color shirt and tie he would wear with his white suspenders. She also wondered what girl was going with what boy, and what color shirt, tie, and suspenders each boy would wear. What are the answers to these two questions?

I guess this is another of those English English vs US English things, but for an island monkey like me the thought of blokes going out to dinner dressed in shirts, ties and suspenders conjours up some very bizarre images.

Posted by fwaff on 2003-10-03 11:21:17