(Strip Number 10919, Original Publication Date, 29 May 1983)
Panel 1: Having noticed that John is putting on his coat to go out, Mike asks him where he's going.
Panel 2: John makes the Gorey-eyed glare of rage as he sharls "The hardware store."
Panel 3: As he puts parts of what looks like a plumbing fixture into a box, Elly tells him that she's really sorry about this.
Panel 4: A mildly irritated John tells her to not to worry about it.
Panel 5: As he opens the door, she tells her that she knows that it's only a minor complaint.
Panel 6: As he leaves, he says that it's okay.
Panel 7: When he gets to the hardware store, John tells the clerk that Elly wants him to return the bathtub faucet and shower set he's holding.
Panel 8: The clerk says "Not quite right, eh? Well, what exactly is she looking for?"
Panel 9: John face-palms as he astonishes the clerk by telling him that Elly wants something she can turn off with her feet.
Summary: This is because John is sort of clueless and doesn't realize that Elly doesn't lock the bathroom door when she takes a bath in case her children need her and she has to rush out. This means that at some point, she dealt with the mortifying commonplace called "children seeing her naked" and wants to minimize the risk. I can understand this but I also know that we're going to watch at least one ex-husband get torn a new one because he "wants" her to be humiliated.