I press the power button on the Game Boy. It usually beeps once, then lights up. Today it beeps twice fast, like it’s saying “Hello?” But nothing happens. I try twisting the volume knob. Nothing moves. I tap harder on the buttons. Still nope. The screen is dark and silent.

I take off my mittens to check the battery slot. A little metal tab sticks out. I flip it up. Inside, two tiny square batteries lie flat. They look like chocolate squares but are hard. I wiggle them around. One pops out easily, but the other slides in tight. I can hear a soft click as I pop both out.

I push a new battery into place. It’s round and shiny. I close up the Game Boy and press power again. The screen lights up with a bright white light that hurts my eyes a little. Then it shows Mario on his big green mushroom. His arms wave, but no music plays. I try turning it off and on again.

Finally, Mario walks to the right, eating fire flowers, then mushrooms, growing big, small, big. The screen flashes with his colors—red for mustache, green for body. He jumps high, lands in a hole, and reappears at the top of the screen. I smile wide. It works!