"A&P"

At first, I thought this story was about anatomy and physiology. I was very wrong. It is about a teenage boy who works in the grocery store, A&P, as a cashier. He is mesmerized by three girls who walk in wearing bathing suites. He follows them with his eyes, describes them, and names them by the characteristics that they display in the store. He is completely distracted by them being there, typical of a teenage boy. The store manager complains and tells them that they should dress properly.
The young boy is clearly going through puberty. He cannot concentrate because three teenage girls are walking around the store. Although he does not know the girls, he gives the readers a clear description of them by naming them and adding personalities. He is a little dramatic towards the end, when he takes off his apron and quits his job. There may be a deeper meaning to this story. He is so fasinated by these girls; he creates an illusion in his head and once it is taken away, he is upset. The girls may represent some kind of guilty pleasure John Updike had. Once it was taken away, he is angry and retreats. It also can display some sort of moral; when something or someone is removed, some people resort in a childish manner.