HELP WITH KNITTY'S KNUCKS PATTERN!!!

[knitunicorn]

AHHH!!!! I am seriously about to start ripping out all my work if I can't figure out how to do this. I'm following this pattern: http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/PATTknucks.html

And I've gotten to this part:
Join Thumb
Work one more round, dividing sts between 2 needles, so that they are arranged as they were for the joining round; work ssk over last 2 sts. 17[21, 25] sts on first needle, 16[20, 24] sts on second needle.

Place thumb sts on 2 needles, placing 7[8, 9] sts on each needle.

Continuing with second needle of last round (after ssk), place stitch marker, k first 2 sts of thumb together, k next 5[6, 7] sts of thumb; using another needle, k next 5[6, 7] sts of thumb, ssk, place stitch marker, k first 2 sts of next hand round together, k to end of needle. 44[54, 64] sts.

It's the part in red that I just don't get!!! If anybody has made these or can figure it out I would GREATLY appreciate it!

[phantom92opera]

work ssk over last 2 sts. 17[21, 25] sts on first needle, 16[20, 24] sts on second needle.

follow the red part with that needle (i think )

[knitunicorn]

But this is what it looks like. [Sorry about my lacking paint skills....ha ha XD]

The needles are parallel and the SSK stitch is BEHIND the thumb. Soooo...I can't really start working the thumb with another double pointed needle.

[redwitch]

Haven't done these or followed the pattern through but at this stage it seems likely that you should be on the back needle (in your diagram) at the end of the hand, before the thumb. Do your decrease, do the thumb stitches (much easier if you put the stitches on two more needles as instructed).
It seems clear from the instructions that you are supposed to be at the end of the hand, starting on the thumb stitches. Basically on the back needle, directly above the stitch you have marked as ssk in red. You should be before the thumb I think - would that make sense? I can't think of any other explanation for your problem.