need help turning heel!

[maryann]

Hi knitters, thanks so much for taking to the time to help me. This is my first pair of socks and I am struggling with this "easy" pattern!

I have 24 stitches on my needle.
I cannot even figure out row one of the heel turning.

Row one: (ws) Slip 1, P___, P2 tog, P1, turn back to rs. side column says 12 sts
you will have 8 stitches unworked.

I have added an attachment of the pattern. I am right at the top, row one.

I dont know what the blank is for.
am i only knitting a few stitches on this first row? do i knit all the way across? where are the unworked stitches? on the left and right? or just on one side? I am so lost!
thanks for any advice!

you can read attachment by viewing full size ........pattern, knit socks by betsy lee mccarthy