A&P STORY FROM QUEENIE'S point of view

We we sitting by the pool relaxing when mymother asked my friends and I to go to the store for her. She wanted us to take a 10 minute ride for a 49 cent can of Fancy Heering Snacks. I was so upset. My friends and I arrived at the store and realized we hed nothing to put over our bathing suits. I told Chelle and Toni to justget out and get it over with.

"I don't want to. What if people stare at us?" whinned Chelle. She was a little chubby but had a nice shape in her swim suit.She had on plaid bermuda shorts so Toni and I didn't understand why she was acting so enbarrassed. Maybe because she had a little extra in the front. I don't kno for sure.

"I don't know why you are complaining." said Toni. "You have on more clothes than Pam and I put together. The quicker we go in, the quicker we get out. We are only getting one item so it won't be that bad. We're not shopping or anything."

We got out of the car and made their way toward the self sliding door.As we got closer, Toni's insecurities started to kick in. She too had began to notice people staring at them through the corner of their eyes. But she kept walking.As we walked through the door, we felt a cool breeze slide between our faces. The store was cold and everyone in it was colder. Women with house coats looked at us jealously, men in their forties looked us pervertedly. We all began to rethink our decision.

We walked over toward the bread ignoring the looks we were getting. We all tried to hurry up and look for the Fancy Herring Snacks but could'nt find them. We saw the guys at the counter looking at us so we didn't want to ask them were it was. We kjust strolled right past them and went to the meat counter. We asked the butcher if he knew were we could find it and he pointed us in the direction. We politely walked off.

"I got it." I said.

"Well let's hurry up and get out of here," said Chelle.

We were looking for a counter to go to and between the two that were open, we decided to go to the one with the youngest looking person because we didn't want to get hit on by an older guy. Plus sme man went to his line with like six jars of pineapple juice.

I handed him the jar. He touched my hand. Then he said, "49 cent."

I reached into my suit and gave him the monbey. Then some old guy came into our face yelling "This isn't a beach".I told him my mom sent us and he just kept going at it. I really didn't care. I was waiting for the cashier to give my change and when he handed it to me, we left.

I got into the car, called my mom and told her to never send me to the store for her again. Then, my friends I drove off.