She turns to a group of black girls behind us. She and they sing Auld Lang Syne. I sing, too. A young man in front of me proposes to his girlfriend. The ball slides down the flagpole.
Fireworks explode against the skyline.
Blasts can be heard in New York Harbor. The year 2000 has come. The newly engaged couple pop an expensive bottle of champagne and hand out plastic glasses. I take one, of course, and drink. Two cops walk past and smile.