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Because you don't have a lot of room in the short story, most of your characters will be defined by a few specific traits and defining characteristics.
    Examples of traits are messy, carefree and thin.  

   When showing a reader the traits for each character, avoid using narration.  Instead, show them the traits through the character actions.  We could show one of the traits using action, as in:

   "Mary made her way across her apartment carefully, stepping in the few small patches of carpet that were still visible through the sea of clutter that had settled on her floor."
 This is much stronger than writing -  "Mary had a lot of clutter in her apartment."

    Bring out traits over time by working details into the story.  "Even with the band's arm pushed through the smallest hole, the watch slipped over her wrist." This is an implication that the character is thin - you don't have to spell it out.
   
   Remind readers of things often, referring to character traits frequently.  Many readers do not remember characters over time, and you need to remind them who is who in a crowd.

   Present short story characters by describing them using a few traits, or hooks, especially ones that are not primary characters.  You can use the traits later to remind the reader of who the character is.

   "Tom smiled broadly, a corncob pipe dangling from between his cracked lips.  I noticed that he had only three teeth."

   These odd traits give Tom a unique character, and provide you with a hook.  For most characters, this is all you need.

   One habit that you should cultivate is to pay attention to people around you, looking for memorable traits that you can use in your characters.  Some writers will write particularly strong traits down, keeping note cards or a notepad nearby.

One of the most powerful tools you can use to bond your reader with your character, and clearly tag them as a "good guy" is self sacrifice. 

The mother who risks her life to save her ailing son is immedialy embraced by the reader, and labled as a caring mother - few tools can label the antagonist so quickly.