A & P by John Updike

John Updike's "A & P" Do you remember the grocery store chain A&P? The letters stand for "Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company," and the store used to be one of the most popular in the United States. The third person narrator of a story (or poem, play, or novel) is not the same person as the author. The narrator of this story is named Sammy, which is a kid's or teenager's name; what we call …

…attraction to Queenie: love makes him strong. However, when Sammy goes outside expecting to receive thanks from the girls, they are nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, Sammy realizes he may have done a stupid thing, but he doesn't go back into the A&P and ask for his job back. He is finally taking initiative for the future--and responsibility for himself. Now, Sammy is in an adult world. What do you predict for Sammy's future?