extern char getEvent();
unsigned long now;

// zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcba

char receiver[50];

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  Serial.println("\nMRE d ropped characters");

}
// is it my getEvent thing?
void loop() {
  now = millis();   // only call to millis anywhere
;  
  char theChar = getEvent(); 
  if (theChar > 0) {
    static int counter;

    receiver[counter] = theChar; 
    receiver[counter + 1] = '\0';
    
    Serial.println(counter);
    Serial.println(" ");
    Serial.println(theChar);

    counter++;

    if (theChar == 'a') {
      Serial.println(receiver);
      counter = 0;
    }
  }
}

/*extern char getEvent();
unsigned long now;

// zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcba

char receiver[50];

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  Serial.println("\nMRE dropped characters");

}
// is it my getEvent thing?
void loop() {
  now = millis();   // only call to millis anywhere
;  
  char theChar = getEvent(); 
  if (theChar > 0) {
    static int counter;

    receiver[counter] = theChar; 
    receiver[counter + 1] = '\0';
    
//    Serial.println(counter);
//    Serial.println(" ");
//    Serial.println(theChar);

    counter++;

    if (theChar == 'a') {
      Serial.println(receiver);
      counter = 0;
    }
  }
}
*/