Personal response
I believe that Sammie is quitting more then a job. He is rebelling against the conformist fascist hierarchy of not only the manager and the store but, life in general. He was tired of doing the same thing day in and day out. The repetition of it all seems to almost drive him mad. Sammy starts to feel, for the first time, that there is something better out there .
He is ready to step into another part of the world. He is developing independent thoughts and actions. He is ready to find out what the world has to offer. When he quits he knows there is no point of return or taking his words back. Doing so he would only be falling back into the mold that he so rejects. He does have some hesitation like removing his apron slowly and folding it up.
Once it is removed, he knows there is no turning back. This symbolizes his acceptance of having to move on. After the manager makes his remarks about his decision and it’s impact on his parents, his actions show he is thinking for himself and not about the reactions of his parents.
His parents may look back on it as a sad event, but to him it was groundbreaking on his journey toward maturity. It is hard to let the bird leave the nest into adulthood. Hard it may be, but it is a necessary part of growing up. This time he is making his own decisions and becoming a man.
“Queenie”, represents a person who does her own thing and does not take into consideration the boundaries of the local town. She does this in her mannerisms, dress and actions. She is also the final queue in Sammie’s decision to leave the store.