“A&P” by John Updike Summary

The story takes place in a small-town A&P supermarket, where the first-person narrator, Sammy, is a 19-year-old cashier. One day, three teenage girls walk into the store wearing only their bathing suits. This unconventional attire immediately catches the attention of Sammy and the store’s customers, causing a stir in the conservative, suburban environment.

As the girls shop, Sammy becomes infatuated with the leader of the trio, whom he dubs “Queenie” in his mind. Sammy is drawn to her confidence and the way she carries herself. He watches their interactions with other customers and store employees, including his boss, Lengel, who reprimands the girls for their attire. Sammy is inwardly critical of Lengel’s approach.

When the girls come to the checkout, Sammy, in an impulsive act of rebellion against the store’s authority and to impress the girls, quits his job by taking off his A&P apron and announcing his resignation. He does this partly in defense of the girls, who feel humiliated by Lengel’s comments, and partly to assert his own independence and non-conformity.

In the end, Sammy watches the girls leave the store, but they do not notice him. Sammy’s gesture of quitting his job and his hope of impressing Queenie go unacknowledged, and he is left feeling both excited and uncertain about the consequences of his impulsive decision.

The story “A&P” is often interpreted as a coming-of-age narrative, where Sammy’s rebellion represents a moment of awakening and assertion of individuality in a mundane and restrictive environment. The story explores themes of conformity, societal norms, and the complexities of human desire and longing.