This story written by famous writer John Updike is narrated by Sammy, a 19 year old cashier at the A&P store. The action takes place in summer, in the store, on a Thursday afternoon. It is clear that Sammy is fed up with his job, and he is trying to change his life for the better. Coming from a small town, he sees people who surround him as sheep that just go with the flock. He feels that they are all the same and is eager to show his own identity and develop as a personality.

When three girls walk in the store wearing their swimsuits, Sammy takes an interest in them. One girl, whom he names Queenie stands out the most. Sammy feels that she is well off, judging by her looks, her clothes, the way she behaves, things she buys and so on. She appears different than the rest of the people who surround him every day. It might be that this inspires his next actions. He defends the girl before his boss Lengel who has been acting rude to them and quits his job. This is the first situation in Sammy’s life, when he stands up for what he believes in. This rapid decision makes him more mature and finally he takes the first step towards his dream. Now, nothing is holding him back, he is free to change his surroundings and his life for the better.

Another noticeable character in the story is the girl Quennie. This is just a nickname given to her by Sammy. We do not know her real name, and we do not know much about her at all. We can only judge her by the narrator’s observations, and Sammy thinks she resembles a queen. All we know is that she goes into the A&P along with her girlfriends to buy herring snacks. All three girls are wearing nothing but swim attire; of course, they attract a lot of attention in the store.

Quennie is unquestionably a leader of the group. She is strong, attractive, confident, but sensitive as she almost breaks down when Lengel makes rude remarks about them. It is obvious, why she inspires Sammy so much as she is a complete opposite to the people he calls “sheep”. It is hard to say, though if this event is so meaningful to her as it is to him. Probably, after a while, she will not even remember about it. When Sammy quits his job, he wants her to hear it, he hopes that she would feel he is doing this for her, and they can start off a new future together, but nobody is waiting for him at the parking lot when he goes out. The girls have already left.