“A & P” by John Updike is a short story centered around a young man named Sammy who works at a grocery store. One day in the summer, three girls walk into the store wearing their bathing suits. Sammy’s boss Lengel goes up to the girls and tells them they can’t shop at A & P unless they are “decently dressed.” One of the girls blushes and they all appear embarrassed. Sammy is attracted to the girls and believes that if he defends them, he will come across as a hero.

Sammy says “I quit” to Lengel and hopes that the girls will appreciate him for this. But the girls do not seem to care, and they leave the store. After they are gone Lengel tries to talk Sammy out of quitting but Sammy feels committed to his gesture. Lengel tells Sammy he will “feel this” for a long time. When Sammy walks out into the parking lot, he realizes how hard his life is going to be now. Overall, it is a story of individualism, coming of age, and the contrast between the ideals of young people and reality.

The climax of the story is the moment in which Sammy tells Lengel “I quit.” This is the part of the plot that is the most intense. It is an attempt to resolve the conflict caused by the girls and changes the course of the story.