A & P Short Story Analysis

The short story A & P, written by John Updike, is different because of the way that Updike is able to write in present and past tense from the perspective of a teenager thinking back to his days working in a grocery store. The story is about some girls who walk into the store wearing nothing but their bathing suits. These girls draw everybody’s attention away from their work and onto them simply because of the way that they’re dressed. Besides the distraction, most of the conflict does not occur until the store manager notices the girls and scolds them about their attire. The comedic patter of the story is very evident with the way the narrator gives the girls and others in the store little nicknames that are almost somewhat offensive. This …show more content…
Lengel sports the girls and approaches them in front of Sammy’s counter. Lengel says to the girls, “Girls, this isn’t the beach.” (Updike 151). This is the first time any of the girls speak. Queenie, (as Sammy calls her), is the on who pipes up and says that the reason they are in the store is to buy a jar of herring snacks from her mother. Sammy imagines being at her house, with her family just from the sound of her voice. Lengel beings to lecture them about being “decently dressed” and Queenie argues back that they are “decently dressed” (Updike 151). “Girls, I don’t want to argue with you. After this come in here with your shoulders covered. It’s our policy.” Lengel responds (Updike 151). After the feud had settled down a little Sammy is instructed to ring up their items. He explains the process of ringing up each item and how that it is actually more difficult then it sounds. As he finishes and girls begin to leave he makes a decision that might have changed his life …show more content…
It was too late for Sammy to change anything though; He had already quit. Lengel then responds to Sammy’s decision to quit. Sammy has a quick dispute with Lengel about the fact that Lengel didn’t have to embarrass the girls and how it obviously offended Sammy too. Sammy takes off his apron with his name stitched into it, puts it on the counter, and places his bow tie on top of it all. He then walks out of the A & P and begins to look for the girls, who by now are long gone. Sammy looks back though the big window to see Lengel taking his place at the counter and realizes the severity of his decision. “My stomach kind of fell as I felt how hard the world was going to be to me hereafter.” (Updike