Thought's on "A & P"

John Updike's short story "A & P" is an inside look on Sammy's desire for something more and his decision to step in that direction. Sammy is bored of working, what seems to him, a dead end job. He is so familiar with the store aisles and what they contain; He knows the names of each worker there, makes a jingle with the cash register and ponders the life of to of his co-workers. Sammy is interested when girls come in and bring life to the grocery store, but his interest is peaked on more than a mere physical level. Sammy wants the freedom and excitement of life that is portrayed in the girls' visit. Sammy then compares the achievements of one of his co-workers, his boss, Lengel, and the girls. He identifies more with the girls, so much so, that he quits his job from being offended, when his boss emphasizes his "policies" to the young ladies. Sammy doesn't quit to only attempt to impress the girls, but primarily to accept their way of living life. This is Sammy's own choice, not his parent's, and maybe his first adult decision to step into the direction in which he wants his life to go.