Direct Selection tool stopped working

[GeoffreyB82A]

Trying to join endpoints of two paths, but when I select the first, it will not stay selected, so I am unable to join the points. Any insights?

[Larry G. Schneider]

Do you keep in the Shift depressed after you select the first anchor and before you select the second? The Shift key is necessary to add to a selection.

[GeoffreyB82A]

The problem is the the first anchor will not stay selected for me to even use the shift key for the second.

[Larry G. Schneider]

So you click on the first anchor and it deselects before you can click on the second? Have you tried to click the first while holding down the Shift key and then click on the second while still holding down the Shift key? You can also use a Selection box by starting away from the anchor and then drag a box around both anchors.