A&A by john Updike

Sammy, a character created by John Updike in the short story A & P, works in the local A & P supermarket. Distracted by a group of young women that has come into the store wearing only a bathing suit, his mind wonders while helping other customers at his register. Sammy begins to daydream about the girls, even giving one a nickname. As he watches them go through the store, picking up only a can …

…to hold his ground and go through with it. Sammy is the guy who never 'gets the girl'. After making his stand and quitting his job, the girls are no where to be found in the parking lot he came out to. This realization comes much too late and at which time he cannot do anything to fix it. The lesson learned by Sammy makes him a little less innocent and a little more experienced.