KBCC ENG 40 Short Fiction

Three teenage girls wearing only bathing suit entered an A  & P supermarket. Sammy who is the cashier working in the A & P was watching the girls and name the one who appears to be the leader "Queenie" because of her arrogant and regal behavior. The girls wanted to buy Kingfish Fancy Herring Snacks in Pure Sour Sauce. The manager, Lengel, scold the girls as they approach the register for coming into the store and they were improperly dressed . When Sammy saw that "Queenie" was upset, he told his manager that he did not have to embarrassed the girls. Lengel responded that the girls were the ones who embarrassed him and the town at large by flaunting their bodies. Because of lengel's response, Sammy quits his job with immediate effect. He was trying to defend "Queenie's honor. "Queenie" didn't notice what Sammy did, as a matter of fact no one appreciate his gesture and he lost his job and gained nothing in return.

Early in the story the author introduced a tension between the mother and two daughters. On one hand the author shows how the mother refused to accept the superficial values of her more successful older daughter. Instead, she prefer her younger daughter who has more practical values who is not as successful as her older sister. Through the conflicts the author maybe exploring the families heritage. The author portrayed the oldest daughter as a self centered beautiful and bright woman who has a superficial view of her heritage. This superficial view could be a symbol that bright and beautiful people happened to be very vocal, aggressive and demanding. The way that they speak about their ancestors is also very degrading. Also the daughter symbolize a movement which can be seen as been very Afrocentric, which wants to reconnect with their African past or African heritage. This however creates a conflict with who she really is because in order to connect with her African heritage she has ...