There a scene in which the two main characters are eating some sort of candy with a knife. What is that?
Taffy. Homemade, I guess, 'cause Joyce says something about "the recipe calls it taffy, but..." and goes on about how it sticks in her teeth.
If you over boil taffy it will harden too much. Also you have to "pull" it, to make it soft. I doubt Joyce Heath was a whiz in the kitchen! LOL