They walked into town, a bustling strip of highway lined by surf shops and restaurants. Warren spent time schooling Tinker on how to talk, what human words to use to make her wants known, rather than her charming but rather naïve way of using the term fur for clothes among other things. She found that sweat was beading up on her body which at first she found odd, until Warren told it that sweating replaced panting.<br/><br/>“Oh, it means that I am hot and need a drink of water?” she asked, wiping her forehead and lifting her heavy mane of black hair from her neck. He assured her that it would be much cooler in the shops.<br/><br/>Once inside, Tinker thought the people in there looked at them funny, but maybe it was because of the long sleeved shirts and jeans because most of the people there had on thin shirts with narrow straps over their shoulders and pants that exposed their knees. One girl had on a long flowing scarf wrapped around her waist and a top that barely held her breasts in place. Warren explained that she wore a sarong and a bikini. Tinker noticed that he tried not to look in the woman’s direction much and that his face turned red when he did. Tinker had no idea why, but she thought the girl looked as if she wasn’t about to pant or sweat or whatever being too hot meant.<br/><br/>While Warren was looking at men’s clothes, Tinker found an older lady to help her find some clothes like the girls. When the lady asked her if she needed anything else. Tinker had an idea.<br/><br/>“I just got, ummm, mated, with him,” she pointed to Warren, “But my people didn’t exactly dress like this.” Tinker spread her hands out over the skimpy clothes. “I will be honest. I’m not exactly sure what to buy. Will you find what all I need? I think my man can buy it, if you just keep it basic.”<br/>“Them religious nuts,” the lady muttered. “I knows about them. Won’t let their kids dress normal. Thinks they gotta cover up ever thing. Plumb foolish, that’s what it is. Don’t you worry about a thang, little girl. Nelda will hook you up.”<br/><br/>Tinker followed her around while she filled a bag with brightly colored swim wear, flower bedecked sarongs, shorts, tank tops, tee shirts and flip flops.<br/><br/>“We don’t have ladies’ undergarments, but if you go on down to WalMart you can get some.”<br/><br/>Warren joined her at the counter and Tinker grinned at the expression on his face.<br/><br/>“This lady said I would need these things. Can you pay for them?”<br/><br/>Nelda leaned over the counter and looked around conspiratorially.<br/><br/>“Tells you what. Them thangs is on sale. 20 bucks a bag. It all fit in one bag, that is 20 bucks. That work for you, Mister?”<br/><br/>Tinker grinned at him again. She had real clothes of her own.