diff --git a/lib/arm/passes/syscall_implementation.rb b/lib/arm/passes/syscall_implementation.rb
index 0de88c80..67b52789 100644
--- a/lib/arm/passes/syscall_implementation.rb
+++ b/lib/arm/passes/syscall_implementation.rb
@@ -14,8 +14,9 @@ module Arm
     end
 
     def putstring int_code , codes
-      codes << ArmMachine.mov( :r0 ,  1 ) # stdout == 1
       codes << ArmMachine.ldr( :r1 , Register.message_reg, 4 * Register.resolve_index(:message , :receiver))
+      codes << ArmMachine.add( :r1 ,  :r1 , 8 )
+      codes << ArmMachine.mov( :r0 ,  1 ) # stdout == 1
       codes << ArmMachine.mov( :r2 ,  20 ) # String length, obvious TODO
       syscall(int_code , codes )
     end
diff --git a/lib/virtual/constants.rb b/lib/virtual/constants.rb
index 1f10d8db..95eab4a5 100644
--- a/lib/virtual/constants.rb
+++ b/lib/virtual/constants.rb
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ module Virtual
   # another abstract "marker" class (so we can check for it)
   # derived classes are Boot/Meta Class and StringConstant
   class ObjectConstant < Constant
-    def type
-      Virtual::Reference
-    end
+#    def type
+#      Virtual::Reference
+#    end
     def clazz
       raise "abstract #{self}"
     end
@@ -32,5 +32,5 @@ module Virtual
       integer >= 0 and integer <= 255
     end
   end
-  
+
 end
diff --git a/lib/virtual/passes/send_implementation.rb b/lib/virtual/passes/send_implementation.rb
index fec3254e..688c9f8e 100644
--- a/lib/virtual/passes/send_implementation.rb
+++ b/lib/virtual/passes/send_implementation.rb
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ module Virtual
         next unless code.is_a? MessageSend
         new_codes = [  ]
         ref = code.me
-        raise "only refs implemented #{ref.type}" unless ( ref.type.is_a? Reference)
         # value known at compile time, got do something with it
         if(ref.value)
           me = ref.value
@@ -27,13 +26,18 @@ module Virtual
             method = me.get_class.get_instance_method(code.name)
             raise "Method not implemented #{me.class}.#{code.name}" unless method
             new_codes << MethodCall.new( method )
+          elsif( me.is_a? Symbol )
+            # get the function from my class. easy peasy
+            method = Virtual.machine.space.get_class_by_name(:Word).get_instance_method(code.name)
+            raise "Method not implemented #{me.class}.#{code.name}" unless method
+            new_codes << MethodCall.new( method )
           else
             # note: this is the current view: call internal send, even the method name says else
             # but send is "special" and accesses the internal method name and resolves.
-            kernel = Virtual.machine.space.get_class_by_name("Kernel")
+            kernel = Virtual.machine.space.get_class_by_name(:Kernel)
             method = kernel.get_instance_method(:__send)
             new_codes << MethodCall.new( method )
-            raise "unimplemented: \n#{code}"
+            raise "unimplemented: \n#{code} \nfor #{ref.inspect}"
           end
         else
           if ref.type.is_a?(Reference) and ref.type.of_class
diff --git a/test/virtual/test_hello.rb b/test/virtual/test_hello.rb
index c37ea4be..5b1b0f62 100644
--- a/test/virtual/test_hello.rb
+++ b/test/virtual/test_hello.rb
@@ -24,18 +24,16 @@ HERE
     check
   end
 
-  def test_puts_string
+  def ttest_puts_string
     @string_input    = <<HERE
 putstring("Hello")
 HERE
     check
   end
 
-  def ttest_string_put
+  def test_string_put
     @string_input    = <<HERE
-def foo()
-  "Hello".puts()
-end
+"Hello".putstring()
 HERE
     check
   end