In John Updike's "A&P", Sammy makes a hasty, reasonable decision to quit his job. Sammy is a cashier at the A&P, a local grocery store. He works there to please his parents and does not see any excitement or joy out of working there. One day, three girls wearing swimsuits walk into the store. Sammy watches the girls and the behavior of the customers in the store. The manager, Lengel, humiliated "Queenie", one of the girls, about their clothing in front of everyone. Sammy sees this as an opportunity to get away from his job and to try and be a hero in front of the girls. He is not satisfied with his job, nor Lengel for the humiliation he brought upon the girls so he says, "I quit".
             Sammy is a typical teenage boy. He has the job at the A&P, a boring little grocery store, to please his parents. The manager, Lengel, has been a family friend for years. Sammy is not happy about his job there. The A&P is a place where the same thing always happens -- nothing. He is longing for something exciting or interesting to come along. Then it appears. Three young, high-class girls walk into the A&P wearing nothing but swimsuits. Sammy is astonished by these girls. He analyzes them and watches there every move. No one usually comes in half dressed like they were. Business at the A&P was slow and there is not much to do besides watch the girls who came in. Sammy watches the girls walk through the store. The one he notices most is "Queenie". She realizes he is watching her, but pays no attention. They way these girls carried themselves, they were obviously from an upper class neighborhood. She just walks around with her head held high, longing for attention.
             There are two check out slots open, Sammy's and Stoksie's. As the girls begin to approach the slots, a couple goes to Stoksie's slot. The girls advance towards Sammy's slot. Lengel, the manager and a Sunday school teacher, comes out and comment...