I Start Counting

A 14-year-old girl living with adoptive parents who harbors a romantic fixation on her 32-year-old stepbrother, George. Her inner world is intense and private, mixing puppy-love with a growing sense of danger. She moves between curiosity, longing, and courageous acts as she investigates clues about George and the disappearances around town.

Wynne's 32-year-old adoptive stepbrother. He is presented as charming yet elusive, with a private life Wynne does not fully understand. His relationship with Wynne is complicated by later revelations of an affair with a mentally unstable woman and hints of darker secrets, complicating Wynne's suspicions.

A bus conductor who Wynne encounters repeatedly; he becomes the town's killer figure in her mind. He is revealed as the killer when he confesses to the murders, escalating the tension as he pursues Wynne. The confrontation culminates in a chase that ends with police intervention.

Wynne's best friend who teases her about the crush and flirts with George, complicating Wynne's feelings. She is impulsive and socially bold, pushing boundaries in a small-town setting. Corinne's death later in the story intensifies Wynne's fear and sense of loss.

Aunt Rene represents the extended family dimension in Wynne's world, contributing to the domestic milieu of the story. Her presence underscores the routine, sometimes stifling, aspects of family life in the small town.

The adoptive mother who anchors the family in domestic life. Her interactions with Wynne reflect care, control, and the tensions that arise as Wynne's obsessions and suspicions intensify.

A town priest who represents the moral and religious backdrop of Wynne's world, providing direction or commentary on the events in the story.

Duplicate entry to reflect the character already described above. (Included for cast alignment.)

A minor figure encountered in a scene at an ice cream stand; his presence punctuates everyday life in the town.

A character who appears in town scenes; a secondary presence in Wynne's social circle.

The elder member of Wynne's social circle; provides a memory connection to the past and the family’s history within the town.

A teen character who appears in scenes at school or neighborhood in the town; part of Wynne's social circle.

A minor offscreen-like figure encountered in the town; adds a sense of urban texture to Wynne's world.

A nun encountered in school settings; part of the town's religious and educational framework.

A priest seen at school, contributing to the community’s moral atmosphere.

A town resident who appears in scenes; part of Wynne's social life.

Additional reference for cast alignment in extended scenes; narrative impact remains tied to her earlier portrayal.

Background note for cast alignment; same role as above referenced in scene contexts.

A minor background character seen in the ice cream shop scene.