Where in the story "A&P" does the dramatic conflct become apparent? from "A&P" by John Updike

To best answer this question, it is important to know what
"dramatic conflict" is, and once you know, if you are familiar with the story, the
answer will come easily.

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Dramatic conflict is created
when a character is prevented from getting something he or she wants. Action is the
result of conflict...Each character’s desire prevents the other [character in the
conflict] from accomplishing his or her desire. The [story] is over when the conflict is
resolved.

In John Updike's
A&P, Sammy is at his job at the grocery story when three
girls walk in wearing only bathing suits. It was very common at the time this story was
written (and is still the case in some places today) that you weren't supposed to go
into a public area (store or restaurant) without proper clothing. To the point, these
three girls are breaking store policies (rules), and although they are in the "wrong,"
Sammy feels the need to step in.

Sammy is quite taken with
one of the girls who carries herself 'like a queen.' Sammy describes how she looks and
even how she moves when she walks up and down the aisles. He is a boy taken by the
beauty and grace of a girl, and affected by his own naiveté and an age-old sense of
honor.

As the girls approach the check-out lane where Sammy
is now stationed, the store manager reproaches (scolds) the girls. This is where the
dramatic conflict arises. The conflict here ends up being between
Sammy and his manager.  The manager wants the girls to conform in their dress—this is
his desire; and Sammy wants the manager to leave the girls alone—this is Sammy's desire.
The store manager prevents Sammy from getting what he wants, which is the manager's
change of heart/some tolerance for the girls and their attire. Because Sammy cannot get
his way (which the reader can see coming), his final act is to quit his
job.

It is at this point that the dramatic
conflict ends. The manager has no intention of backing down; Sammy's
resignation does not change anything—the girls are long gone; and, Sammy is now out of a
job. The conflict arises as Sammy steps up to defend the girls in what he sees as an
injustice to them.