Sammy Would Have Still Been

¶ … Sammy would have still been compelled to quit his job. Throughout the short story, Sammy builds a mental bond with the three girls, making himself a part of their adventure through the store. If the three girls were homely, he would not have been so intrigued by their appearance. Sammy is fascinated by all of them even by one of the girls that he refers to as "chubby" The main character Sammy states:

The one that caught my eye first was the one in the plaid green two-piece. She was a chunky kid, with a good tan and a sweet broad soft looking can with those two crescents of white just under it.

Now, it is also evident that there was a strong physical attraction or curiosity to the three girls. If they were homely looking, Sammy probably would have glanced at them, and went back on with his life as if nothing out the ordinary had ever happened. Sammy appears too fixated on their appearance, the color of their skin, the shapes, and shades that he compares and contrasts their bodies.

Quote: She was a chunky kid, with a good tan and a sweet broad soft-looking can with those two crescents of white just under it, where the sun never seems to hit, at the top of the backs of her legs…. There was this chunky one, with the two-piece -- it was bright green and the seams on the bra were still sharp and her belly was still pretty pale so I guessed she just got it (the suit) -- there was this one, with one of those chubby berry-faces, the lips all bunched together under her nose, this one, and a tall one, with black hair that hadn't quite frizzed right, and one of these sunburns right across under the eyes, and a chin that was too long -- you know, the kind of girl other girls think is very "striking" and "attractive" but never quite makes it.

If the three girls were in the store with their boyfriends, Sammy may have still noticed them, but I do not believe that he would have been as intrigued to visually track them around the A&P store. The only time that Sammy loses sight of the three girls is when they are in a certain section of the store and after they have left.

The girls had reached the meat counter and were asking McMahon something. He pointed, they pointed, and they shuffled out of sight behind a pyramid of Diet Delight peaches. All that was left for us to see was old McMahon patting his mouth and looking after them sizing up their joints. Poor kids, I began to feel sorry for them, they couldn't help it. I look around for my girls, but they're gone, of course. There wasn't anybody but some young married screaming with her children about some candy they didn't get by the door of a powder-blue Falcon station wagon.

On the other hand it is possible that Sammy could have been just a smitten with the three girls boyfriends or not, but through the context it seems like he would not have been as apt to stare at them the whole time; he might have perhaps glanced occasionally. In addition, he never would have quit if they had boyfriend with them. When Sammy quit he was trying to make sure that the three girls heard him, and hoped that they saw what he was doing. Sammy wanted it to appear as if he was defending their honor.

So I say, "I quit" to Lengel quick enough for them to hear, hoping they'll stop and watch me, their unsuspected hero.