John Updike's "A&P"

I though that John Updike's short story "A&P" was very enjoyable. Even though the writing style was strange, it is exactly how somebody the narrator's age would tell a life experience. The narrator was humorous as well; lines like "do you really think it's a mind in there or just a little buzz like a bee in a glassjar?" and "a really sweet can" and his nicknames for the girls (Queenie, Plaid, Big Tall Goony-Goony) are a few of these funny aspects. I would definitely recommend this short story.

The narrator of "A&P" is a nineteen-year-old boy named Sammy who works in a supermarket. He notices and is attracted to three teenage girls who are dressed like they just came from the beach. The manager scolds them for not looking presentable and tells them not to come in the store again until they dress properly. Sammy is angered by this and quits on the spot. What the narrator reveals about himself indirectly is that he automatically reacts to something he does not like or agree with without thinking about the reasons or consequences. It is not known if events like this happen often or if it was a first-time occurrence, but Sammy made up his mind that it was offensive enough to leave. He hopes that the three girls will view him as a hero for standing up for them. When he exits the store, however, they did not notice Sammy for they are nowhere to be seen. He also realizes that what he has done will also disappoint his mother and father. Hopefully, Sammy learned that one should calm down and think before doing something rash because the decision might be regretted later, and that sometimes the decisions you make sometimes go unnoticed by other people, even if you do it for their benefit.