1. Sammy "feels sorry for" the girls because he thinks that they are being judged by other people in the store because of the way they are dressed. The girls are wearing bathing suits, which is not considered appropriate attire for grocery shopping. Sammy understands that they are just trying to have fun and enjoy their day at the beach, but he knows that other people are not as accepting of their behavior.
2. Stokesie is one of Sammy's coworkers at the A&P grocery store. He is described as being married with two children, and he is working at the store to support his family. Stokesie is a bit older than Sammy, and he seems to be more cautious and responsible. He is not as impulsive or daring as Sammy, but he does sympathize with Sammy's desire to break free from the constraints of their small town and mundane jobs. Stokesie aligns himself with Sammy by listening to his complaints about their jobs and commiserating with him about the challenges of working in a dead-end job. However, he does not take the same risks as Sammy, and he ultimately decides to stay at the store and continue working there.