diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 98561eb..e69caa4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# ToolBox-Pickling
-Pickling Project Toolbox starter code
-
-Full instructions at [the course website](https://sd17spring.github.io/toolboxes/pickling/)
+# ToolBox-Pickling
+Pickling Project Toolbox starter code
+
+Full instructions at [the course website](https://sd17spring.github.io/toolboxes/pickling/)
diff --git a/blah.txt b/blah.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..82dd31b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/blah.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+€K.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/blah2.txt b/blah2.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dde5455
--- /dev/null
+++ b/blah2.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+€K.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/counter.py b/counter.py
index 38ec816..322264f 100644
--- a/counter.py
+++ b/counter.py
@@ -1,40 +1,60 @@
-""" A program that stores and updates a counter using a Python pickle file"""
-
-from os.path import exists
-import sys
-from pickle import dump, load
-
-
-def update_counter(file_name, reset=False):
-    """ Updates a counter stored in the file 'file_name'
-
-    A new counter will be created and initialized to 1 if none exists or if
-    the reset flag is True.
-
-    If the counter already exists and reset is False, the counter's value will
-    be incremented.
-
-    file_name: the file that stores the counter to be incremented.  If the file
-    doesn't exist, a counter is created and initialized to 1.
-    reset: True if the counter in the file should be rest.
-    returns: the new counter value
-
-    >>> update_counter('blah.txt',True)
-    1
-    >>> update_counter('blah.txt')
-    2
-    >>> update_counter('blah2.txt',True)
-    1
-    >>> update_counter('blah.txt')
-    3
-    >>> update_counter('blah2.txt')
-    2
-    """
-    pass
-
-if __name__ == '__main__':
-    if len(sys.argv) < 2:
-        import doctest
-        doctest.testmod()
-    else:
-        print("new value is " + str(update_counter(sys.argv[1])))
+""" A program that stores and updates a counter using a Python pickle file"""
+
+import os
+import sys
+import pickle
+
+from os.path import exists
+from pickle import dump, load
+
+
+def update_counter(file_name, reset=False):
+    """ Updates a counter stored in the file 'file_name'
+
+    A new counter will be created and initialized to 1 if none exists or if
+    the reset flag is True.
+
+    If the counter already exists and reset is False, the counter's value will
+    be incremented.
+
+    file_name: the file that stores the counter to be incremented.  If the file
+    doesn't exist, a counter is created and initialized to 1.
+    reset: True if the counter in the file should be rest.
+    returns: the new counter value
+
+    >>> update_counter('blah.txt',True)
+    1
+    >>> update_counter('blah.txt')
+    2
+    >>> update_counter('blah2.txt',True)
+    1
+    >>> update_counter('blah.txt')
+    3
+    >>> update_counter('blah2.txt')
+    2
+    """
+    if (not os.path.exists(file_name)) or reset:
+        #both cases: set value in file to 1
+        new = open(file_name, 'wb')
+        pickle.dump(1, new) #store value 1 in file
+        new.close()
+        return 1
+
+    else: #file exists and no reset
+        checkfile = open(file_name, 'rb')
+        value = pickle.load(checkfile)
+        checkfile.close()
+        value += 1
+        returnfile = open(file_name, 'wb')
+        pickle.dump(value, returnfile) #store value in file
+        returnfile.close()
+        return value
+
+update_counter('blah2.txt')
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    if len(sys.argv) < 2:
+        import doctest
+        doctest.testmod()
+    else:
+        print("new value is " + str(update_counter(sys.argv[1])))