diff --git a/chat-app/static/index.html b/chat-app/static/index.html
index 3e38662..da07796 100644
--- a/chat-app/static/index.html
+++ b/chat-app/static/index.html
@@ -9,12 +9,21 @@
 <script src="/js/chat-service.js"></script>
 <script>
 // start the chat web socket
-initChatService();
 
 // render the application
 
 const root = document.body;
-m.render(root, m("h1", "A Stupid Chat"));
+m.render(root, [
+    m("h1", "A Stupid Chat"),
+    m("div", [
+        m("div", { id: "messages" }, [
+
+        ]).
+        m("form", { id: "message-form" }, [
+
+        ])
+    ])
+]);
 </script>
 </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/chat-app/static/js/chat-service.js b/chat-app/static/js/chat-service.js
index e8ddd0d..37d598a 100644
--- a/chat-app/static/js/chat-service.js
+++ b/chat-app/static/js/chat-service.js
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+const ws = initChatService();
+
 function initChatService() {
     const ws = new WebSocket("ws://localhost:3000/chat-socket");
 
@@ -14,4 +16,6 @@ function initChatService() {
     ws.onerror = function (event) {
         console.log(event);
     };
+
+    return ws;
 }