def alpha_to_index(char):
    """Takes a single character and converts it to a number where A=0"""
    translator = {
                "A": 0, "B": 1, "C": 2, "D": 3, "E": 4, "F": 5, "G": 6, "H": 7,
                "I": 8, "J": 9, "K": 10, "L": 11, "M": 12, "N": 13, "O": 14,
                "P": 15, "Q": 16, "R": 17, "S": 18, "T": 19, "U": 20, "V": 21,
                "W": 22, "X": 23, "Y": 24, "Z": 25,
            }
    return translator[char.upper()]