Throughout the story "A & P" by John Updike the narrator, Sammy, an 18 year old male cashier at the A & P, faces one significant situation. In making his decision, Sammy can choose to go one way or the other way, but either way he knows that there will be consequences for the choice he makes. Sammy does not know the extent of the severity of his consequences before he makes the choice, but he knows he will have to face up to them and accept them because he is the one who makes the choice that gives him the consequences he deserves. Sammy's choice is not solely based on his own views, because the surrounding environment of his workplace and the pressure of other people watching him play a large role in his decision making. The people around Sammy influence him; if there are not a lot of people in the grocery store Sammy may make a different decision. Throughout the story "A & P" the theme of choices and their consequences is exemplified by Sammy's choice to quit his job and the results of the situation; he accepts the consequences of his actions, learns a few important lessons from them, and develops as a person in the process.
             First, the theme of choices and their consequences is shown by Sammy's reactions to the three girls as they walk through the aisles. This leads to his eventual choice to quit his job because of the things that happen from the time they walk in the door to the time they exit the store. Sammy creates his own view of the girls and because of his reactions and feelings towards them, when they reach the register and Lengel, the store manager, approaches them about their swimsuit attire and tells them "This is not the beach" (984), Sammy tells Lengel that he quits his job. This choice that Sammy makes leads to many different consequences that he has to accept because of his decision.
             Sammy faces the first consequence of his action when he quits ...