In the story “A&P” by John Updike, the main character experiences many different things throughout the day while he is working at the local supermarket, as a cashier. Today, he particularly encounters some girls that walk into his store, causing a “scene”. They seem very young and naïve. The three girls come into the store wearing nothing but their bathing suits. This doesn’t seem too appropriate because they are entering a public place. Once the main character notices the girls, he knew something would go wrong. The girls ended up being in the store for a while, and by the time they reach the checkout; they have only decided to buy one item. They begin to pay, and the manager notices that these girls have showed up in nothing but their bathing suits. He starts telling them, that this should be the last time that they ever show up like that. It is very inappropriate and they start explaining how they only came to get one item for their mother. The main character, Sammy, notices that the girl is very embarrassed, and once they leave, Sammy quits. He believes that what the manager had done was wrong. He was standing up for what he believes in, and he probably felt very strongly about it, since he quit his job.

Next, reading this story, should hint people that they should really stand up for what they believe in. This was just a simple example of something that someone might want to do. What the manager did doesn’t seem like a big deal. He does run the store, and the girls did show up in bathing suits; that’s usually not what people wear to public places other than the beach or the pool. Teens in high school can learn from reading this story, that they should do what they think is right. This short story was actually pretty interesting because I was able to relate to some of the things that were going on. The main character, Sammy, works at a supermarket as a cashier, and I do too. The things he experiences with customers seem pretty realistic, and it would be something I have already done as well. I think other people, especially teens will be able to relate to it as well.