Sometimes it takes the smallest situations to show how big a person truly is. Sammy was unaware of the fact that this very day, was the day he would discover a back bone he never knew existed. In John Updike's "A&P", the author depicts a boy who lives an ordinary life and decides to dig deep within himself to stand up for what is right; not allowing his low position in the hierarchy to cloud his morale values. That key transition Sammy makes from a boy to a man relies on these three things: making a decision, dealing with the results of that decision, and moving forward in life; regardless of the outcome.
Throughout our daily lives choices to made. Whether they are small or big, decisions could impact the whole dynamic of our daily lives. Although these three girls in bathing suits weren't exactly seeking attention, Sammy being so bored at work decides to use this moment to entertain himself. Sammy observes, "In walks these three girls in nothing but bathing suits. I'm in the third check-out slot, with my back to the door, so I don't see them until they're over by the bread. The one that caught my eye first was the one in the plaid green two-piece." Sammy was intrigued by the spectacle and slightly lose focus at the register ringing up a customer. He couldn't help but to observe not only their physical appearance, but also wonder their reasoning for showing up in a store in nothing but their bathing suits. Sammy is so involved with these girls, he makes a mistake at the register while scanning an item. "I stood there with my hand on a box of HiHo crackers trying to remember if I rang it up or not. I ring it up again and the customer gives me hell. She'd been watching cash registers forty years and probably never seen a mistake before." As Sammy continues to indulge himself, he does not realize that this is the beginning of the end.
Now that the three girls make it to Sammy's register it is time to check-out.