diff --git a/lib/parfait.rb b/lib/parfait.rb
index 422bafd5..9dd17311 100644
--- a/lib/parfait.rb
+++ b/lib/parfait.rb
@@ -72,16 +72,16 @@ module Parfait
     string = string.to_s if string.is_a? Symbol
     word = Parfait::Word.new( string.length )
     string.codepoints.each_with_index do |code , index |
-      word.set_char(index , code)
+      word.set_char(index + 1 , code)
     end
     word
   end
   def self.new_list array
     list = List.new_object
     list.set_length array.length
-    index = 0
+    index = 1
     while index < array.length do
-      list.set(index , array[index])
+      list.set(index , array[index - 1])
     end
     list
   end
@@ -89,9 +89,9 @@ module Parfait
   Word.class_eval do
     def to_s
       string = ""
-      index = 0
-      while( index < self.length)
-        string[index] = get_char(index).chr
+      index = 1
+      while( index <= self.length)
+        string[index - 1] = get_char(index).chr
         index = index + 1
       end
       string
diff --git a/lib/parfait/layout.rb b/lib/parfait/layout.rb
index 870036a2..8e7ab441 100644
--- a/lib/parfait/layout.rb
+++ b/lib/parfait/layout.rb
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@ module Parfait
     # set the names of the instance variables in one go
     # used while booting the classes. At runtime the list would grow dynamically
     def set_names list
-      self.set_length list.length
+      self.set_length list.get_length
       index = 0
-      while index < list.length do
+      while index < list.get_length do
         list.set(index , array.get(index))
       end
     end
diff --git a/lib/parfait/list.rb b/lib/parfait/list.rb
index 61d1e5c5..6c2afa0f 100644
--- a/lib/parfait/list.rb
+++ b/lib/parfait/list.rb
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ module Parfait
     end
 
     def grow_to(len)
-      raise "Only positive lenths, #{len}" if len <= 0
+      raise "Only positive lenths, #{len}" if len < 0
       old_length = self.get_length
       return if old_length >= len
       internal_object_grow(len + 1)
diff --git a/lib/parfait/object.rb b/lib/parfait/object.rb
index bfc860df..63083159 100644
--- a/lib/parfait/object.rb
+++ b/lib/parfait/object.rb
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ module Parfait
 
     def get_layout()
       puts "ME #{self.class}"
-      return internal_object_get(LAYOUT)
+      return internal_object_get(LAYOUT_INDEX)
     end
 
     # class stores the "latest" layout for instances, ie the layout a new object will
diff --git a/lib/parfait/word.rb b/lib/parfait/word.rb
index d046cacc..42843be2 100644
--- a/lib/parfait/word.rb
+++ b/lib/parfait/word.rb
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ module Parfait
       counter = self.length()
       return if counter >= len
       internal_object_grow( len + 1)
+      counter = counter + 1
       while( counter < len)
         set_char( counter , fill_char)
         counter = counter + 1
@@ -57,7 +58,8 @@ module Parfait
     def range_correct_index at
       index = at
       index = self.length + at if at < 0
-      raise "index out of bounds #{at} > #{self.length}" if (index < 0) or (index > self.length)
+      raise "index must be positive , not #{at}" if (index <= 0)
+      raise "index too large #{at} > #{self.length}" if (index > self.length)
       return index
     end
 
diff --git a/test/parfait/test_word.rb b/test/parfait/test_word.rb
index b1ba9cd2..0a993030 100644
--- a/test/parfait/test_word.rb
+++ b/test/parfait/test_word.rb
@@ -5,9 +5,6 @@ class TestEmptyWord < MiniTest::Test
   def setup
     @word = ::Parfait::Word.new_object(0)
   end
-  def def_same
-    assert_equal @word , ::Parfait::Word.new_object(0)
-  end
   def test_word_create
     assert @word.empty?
   end
@@ -16,7 +13,7 @@ class TestEmptyWord < MiniTest::Test
   end
   def test_index_check_get
     assert_raises RuntimeError do
-      @word.get_char(1)
+      @word.get_char(0)
     end
   end
   def test_index_check_set
@@ -33,9 +30,6 @@ class TestWord < MiniTest::Test
   def test_len
     assert_equal 5 , @word.length
   end
-  def def_same
-    assert_equal @word , ::Parfait::Word.new_object(5)
-  end
   def test_index_check_get
     assert_raises RuntimeError do
       @word.get_char(-6)
@@ -56,8 +50,12 @@ class TestWord < MiniTest::Test
       @word.set_char(-6 , 32)
     end
   end
-  def pest_one_char
-    assert 32 , @word.set_char(1 , 32)
+  def test_one_char
+    assert_equal 32 , @word.set_char(1 , 32)
+  end
+  def test_one_char_doesnt_cuase_problems
+    @word.set_char(1 , 32)
+    assert_equal 32 , @word.get_char(1)
   end
   def pest_empty_word_doesnt_return
     assert_equal nil , @word.get(3)