as we went up the stairs , lettie placed something on each step : a clear glass marble with a twist of green inside it ; one of the little metal objects we called knucklebones ; a bead ; a pair of bright blue doll 's eyes , connected at the back with white plastic , to make them open or close ; a small horseshoe magnet ; a black pebble ; a badge , the kind that came attached to birthday cards , with i am seven on it ; a book of matches ; a plastic ladybird with a black magnet in the base ; a toy car , half squashed , its wheels gone ; and last of all , a lead soldier .