beginner - getting b/w film developed? help!!

greetings!

i am *very* new at photography, basically just trying to get things in focus and exposed properly.

i shot 3 rolls of kodak tri-x 400 film and today went to have them developed. this is where i started to get confused...

seems i can't drop it off at cvs and for $8 get back 24 purty pictures. i have been searching the net and a lot of places for $8 will develop and give you a contact sheet

what does this mean? i take it develop means just the negative but the prints are extra?? and what is a contact sheet? i don't know the first thing about any of this!

also, the guy at the photo place said that they can only develop c-41 film in house. now they sell a kodak b/w that says c-41 on the box. does that mean that joe schmoe photo lab can do it?

thanks for your time!

-jen

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