He knows he is young but entering the realm of adult responsibilities; thus, Sammy is transitioning from teenager to adult. Sammy assimilates to his colleague Stokesie who is an adult. Even though “Stokesie is married, with two babies already written on his fuselage” (Updike 1027), Sammy considers Stokesie and himself equals, with Stokesie's family life being “the only difference” (Updike 1027). Sammy also seems to be quite worldly for working at an A&P. Sammy hints at life existing beyond the A&P. He even makes this comment about Stokesie: “I forgot to say that he thinks he will become a manager one sunny day, maybe in 1990” (Updike 1027). His disenchantment with the manager's job only suggests Sammy's ideas about real life existing outside of his job at A&P. The most obvious display of Sammy's maturity is his sympathy for the girls after they are harshly reprimanded by Lengel. His established sympathy is manifested in “the contrast between the girls and the typical checkout supervisor” (Greiner 389). The possible reasons why Sammy left his job are many: Sammy may have just used the girls' treatment as an excuse, or maybe Lengel really upset him that much. It's possible that Sammy initially quit to impress the girls and become their hero. Susan Uphaus says: “Sammy's stopping has been described as the reflex of one who is not yet committed, of the young person still capable of this great gesture because he has