Start of a counting rhyme

EENIE

["**Hint:** Think of the first word in a playful chant used to pick someone in a game.\n\n*(This hint guides the solver toward the context of a counting rhyme without directly repeating the clue or giving away \"Eenie.\" It references the purpose of the rhyme—selecting someone—and keeps it simple while nudging them in the right direction.)*"]

The clue **"Start of a counting rhyme"** leads to the answer **"EENIE"** because "Eenie" is the opening word of the well-known children's counting-out rhyme **"Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo."** This rhyme is commonly used in games to select someone, often by counting out individuals in a group. The wordplay here is straightforward—it relies on the solver recognizing the first word of this familiar phrase. No complex puns or hidden meanings are involved; instead, the clue simply references the beginning of a widely recognized cultural reference.