The fallen star decoration lay on its side in the snowy square. Emir ran to it and grabbed the silver base.
He pulled the base with both hands, but it would not move. Zeynep and Can pointed and giggled.
His teeth chattered in the cold. 'Let me try,' he whispered.
Emir waved his friends over. 'Together!'
They pushed from opposite sides. The star wobbled, tipped, and rolled into a snowbank.
Emir gasped. The snow crunched under his boots. 'We have to get it upright again.'
Emir remembered the manual crank. He turned it, and a holographic menu appeared.
He tapped Stabilize. Nothing happened.
'Over here!' Zeynep called. She pulled an emergency lever from behind a snowdrift.
Emir pulled the lever. The star's lights flashed wildly, then locked into a steady beam. A giant crescent moon projected onto the snow.
Everyone pointed at the crescent. Emir's friends high-fived him.
That evening, the star lit the square with warm gold. Emir, Zeynep, and Can shared roasted chestnuts.
Emir passed a chestnut to Zeynep. They laughed as fireworks popped.
The three friends watched the fireworks together. The star shone bright above them.
'Best New Year ever,' Emir thought.
The star glowed over the city. The friends dreamed of tomorrow.