# Starting point for file was prettyCharacterCount.py from Automate the Boring stuff
import pprint, sys
message = 'It was a a It day it bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.'
count = {}

for character in message:
    count.setdefault(character, 0)

    ## the setdefault line is equivalent to
    #if character not in count:
    #    count[character] = 0

    count[character] = count[character] + 1

    #print(character)
    #sys.exit()

pprint.pprint(count)