Not all keys are registering?

programming flash
1

Ok, so I am trying to get a keyboard input why my game is playing. So here is my code below. Thing is, only certain keys are coming up in the trace. So if I press the a key, nothing happens. If press the d key, I get the trace. Only a handful of the keys are registering… why?

 
   function PowerUps(e:KeyboardEvent):void{
    var holdout = getTimer();
    var theKey:String = String.fromCharCode(e.charCode); //the key code the was pressed
    
    trace("pressed "+theKey);
    if(holdout < frameTime + 300)       //1 sec. delay between key presses
    {
     return
    }
    if(theKey == String("b"))
    {
     if(aDude.boosts > 0)
     {
      trace(aDude.boosts+" Boosts Left");
      //VelocityChange(50, aDude.rotation);    //need to make this function
      aDude.boosts--;
     }
    }
   }