Final answer:
In "The Yellow Ribbon" by Pete Hamill, the main characters are Vingo and the young people on the bus, including the narrator, who engage with Vingo's story.
Step-by-step explanation:
The short story "The Yellow Ribbon" by Pete Hamill features a few key characters which include the protagonist, Vingo, as well as the young people on the bus, among which the narrator is a part. Vingo is a recently released prisoner who is anxiously anticipating the response from his long-lost love to determine if she still cares for him and is willing to start over. The narrative unfolds on a bus traveling from New York to Florida, with the young narrator and other passengers listening to Vingo's poignant story and eventually witnessing the climactic moment involving the presence or absence of the yellow ribbon.