to the grocery store in curlers and shorts that display "varicose veins mapping their legs and nobody, including them, could care less." In contrast to these "house slaves," the sight of the young girls in their swimsuits as they enter the store is welcomed by Sammy as a delightful change, as well as one that is sexually enticing. Unfortunately for Sammy, he becomes romantic in his perception after Lengel accosts them, explaining the store policy: "Poor kids, I began to feel sorry for them, they couldn't help it." This romantic perception leads Sammy to believe that his chivalric act of quitting because of Lengel's having embarrassed them will impress the girls. However, when he goes outside the store after quitting and looks around for "my girls," they are already gone. His act has gone unnoticed, and Sammy cannot decide whether he is heroic or merely foolish.   

Queenie is a somewhat brazen teenager who leads two other girls into the store in violation of the dress code because they wear only their bathing suits. Queenie has the straps of her suit pushed off, and she walks slowly, "putting a little deliberate action into it." She is a self-centered girl who apparently likes the attention that her attractive figure brings her until she feels embarrassed and blushes when Lengel informs them of the store's rules. She and the other girls have no interest in Sammy, and they depart before witnessing his act of chivalry on their behalf.