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Homewarming was soon-- that evening, in fact. And you had just finished meeting up with Julie, walking back to your own house to prepare for Wally's party when a very boisterous star made herself, and her predicament, known.
"Hark! Hark! Passerby, advance and hear my tale of woe!" Sally called out to you, one mittened hand cupped near her mouth as the other waved in a wide, frantic arc above her tines. You laughed at her words, face twisting up in wry amusement as you nonetheless changed course and came closer, well-tread snow crunching under your boots.
"Hail, fair maiden. Pray tell, what is it that causes you such distress so as to call upon a stranger?" you replied, playing along. Sally huffed, pressing her hands to the front of her coat.
"Do you see this?" she said, gesturing up at the tree she was standing beside. It was one of the pine trees in Home that your neighbours had decorated with shiny tinsel and colourful baubles, swaying gently in the chilly winter breeze.
"The... tree?" you asked,
"What the tree is lacking!" she exclaimed. You blinked at her, then looked up, up, up-- and gasped.
"Ohhh, yeah, there's no star." you replied, nodding solemnly.
"Exactly!" she said, slapping the back of her hand against her palm. It made nothing but a dull thump sound, due to her gloves.
"One of the most glamorous, central trees in Home, without its crown jewel! It's a travesty!"
You nodded again-- jolting slightly when she pointed at you.
"And youuuu will help me amend this mistake!"
You frowned, adjusting your scarf around your neck.
"Uh, I don't have a spare tree topper."
Sally snorted, shaking her head.
"My dear--"
She elongated your name, as she did with most everyone.
"-- we have our star right here!"
She then gestured to herself in a slow, wide arc, so over the top you had to hold back a snicker.
"Ahhh, my mistake. I wasn't aware you had such a calling."
Sally gave you a self-satisfied smile, putting her hands on her hips.
"I'm an actress with many talents, I'll have you know! Besides, the sky was where I once belonged! Shining down on all you hopefuls. It only makes sense I'd reprise the role for a special occasion such as this evening's Homewarming."
You chuckled, shaking your head.
"Alright, alright. Where do I come in, exactly?"
Sally gave you a wink, leaning forward and tapping you on the arm.
"You'll help me climb, of course! A leg up, if you will."
Looking back up at the tree, you made a face.
"I-- you want me to help you up there. Really? The post office isn't very far from here, you know. Nor is the bodega. Couldn't you ask either Howdy or Eddie for help? I'm sure they'd be better at this."
Better as in, taller. But Sally scoffed in response, waving off your suggestions with a vaguely disdainful expression.
"Oh, certainly not! Howard has his four hands full with his family. Interrupting such an intimate event would be a massive faux pas. As for the mailman-- well, you knew quite well we've made sure he has his day off. No point in delivering our gifts to each other this morning if I call upon him to do my bidding now."
Despite the way she said it, her logic was sound. You wouldn't want to bother Eddie either after helping to coordinate this day off for him-- and as much as you cared for Howdy, you weren't about to put yourself in the middle of a Pillar Holiday Hullabaloo. The last time you had tried to stop in for an emergency purchase, you'd been dragged into a four hour conversation with his various relatives asking for an in depth update on your life. Lovely, lovely folks who'd nonetheless reel you in and talk your ears off.
"Plus--" she said, giving you a sly look, "you're the first person I've seen since coming all the way out here. I could be waiting aaaages before another comes along! All alone, out here in the snow..."
Sally feigned a sad expression, moping and wilting in front of you with a hand to her forehead. You scoffed, then sighed.
"Fine."
Sally brightened immediately-- literally. She pressed her hands to her cheeks and closed her eyes, tines and face glimmering like warm candlelight.
"My hero!" she said, before opening her eyes and pointing down.
"I'll step up on your shoulders. That's the easiest way!"
You grumbled, but complied, getting down on one knee. Sally stepped on your leg, making a small sound as she wobbled up onto your shoulders. She was quite light, thankfully, due to being a puppet, and you had no problem with holding up one hand for her to grab onto for stability before rising back up on both feet.
"Oh-!"
Sally wavered again, and you grit your teeth.
"Hold on, don't lock your knees."
You took a step forward, then another, right up until you were face to face with pine needles. Slowly, you shuffled around in a one-eighty, so Sally was now facing the tree.
"That spot good?" you asked her.
"Yep! I'm-- grabbing on now!"
Her gloved hand left yours-- then, with some grunting and grumbling from the star above you, her feet left your shoulders. You turned and watched as she clambered up the rest of the tree. You had helped her past a third of it, but she still had to climb up the other-two thirds. You stepped back as a shower of pine needles was knocked loose, falling to the ground in a cloud of green. One or two ornaments even came loose-- you scrambled to catch those; the last thing that the ground needed was hidden glass for someone to step on by accident.
Sally let out a triumphant whoop as she placed her hands at the very tip top of the tree.
"Everest conquered! Icarus wept! Heaven and Earth separated once more!"
You giggled at her antics, hooking the baubles back onto the boughs of the tree.
"See you at Wally's!" you called out, waving up at her. She pressed her gloved hand to her mouth, blowing you a kiss.
"Farewell, sweet hero! Until we meet again!"
You rolled your eyes but caught the kiss, pretending to eat it just to hear her gasp in horror. Then, you blew a kiss back, laughing loudly at the way she pretended to put your kiss in a blender in retaliation before finally restarting your walk back home.