The old van rattled as it pulled into a dimly lit alley, just a block away from the buzzing children's party. Inside, Molly and Bill huddled over a map of the community center, their eyes gleaming with mischief. "Molly, you sure this is gonna work?" Bill asked, scratching his scruffy beard. "Positive. Listen, these are kids, Bill. They won't see us coming," Molly replied, her voice confident. "Now, let's go over the plan one last time." Bill sighed, running his hand through his hair. "Alright, lay it on me." Molly pointed to the map. "First, we sneak in through the back entrance. It's always less guarded." "And if we get caught?" Bill interrupted. "We won't get caught," Molly shot back, rolling her eyes. "But if we do, we pretend we're clowns." "Clowns?" "Yes, clowns. We'll have the makeup and red noses in the bag, just in case. You got the bag, right?" Bill patted the large duffel bag. "Yep, got it. Balloons, makeup, rubber chicken and all." "Good. Once we're in, we head straight for the room with the presents. Here, marked with an 'X'. We grab as many as we can carry and sneak out the same way we came in." "Sounds simple enough," Bill said, though he didn't look entirely convinced. "And if any kids come up to us?" "We entertain them. We're clowns, remember? Make a balloon animal or something," Molly added, twirling her finger in the air. Bill frowned. "I don't know how to make balloon animals." "Just twist it a few times. Kids don't know the difference," Molly reassured him. Bill sighed again. "Okay, and what about the parents?" Molly leaned in closer, whispering. "That's the tricky part. They might be a bit more suspicious. We stick to the shadows, blend in with the decor if we have to." "Blend in? How?" Molly smirked. "Ever seen a parent run around at a kid's party? They're too busy to notice anything. Just act natural." Bill chuckled. "Natural? We're about to steal a bunch of presents from kids' party. Nothing about that is natural." "True, but we're professionals. We can make it work." Molly glanced at her watch. "It's almost time. Ready?" Bill nodded, though his face was a mix of determination and nervousness. "Let's do this." They slipped out of the van, moving stealthily through the shadows. As they approached the community center, they could hear the distant sound of children's laughter and music. Molly eyed the back entrance. "There it is. Quick, before anyone sees us." Bill followed her lead, and they quietly slipped inside. The hallway was dimly lit and deserted. "Easy so far," Bill whispered. Molly nodded. "This way." They tiptoed through the hallway, making their way to the room marked on the map. As they rounded a corner, they nearly collided with a young boy holding a balloon. He stared at them wide-eyed. "What are you doing here?" "We're clowns," Molly said quickly, plastering on a bright smile. The boy looked skeptical. "Where are your costumes?" "In the bag!" Bill blurted out. The boy's eyes lit up. "Can I see?" Molly laughed nervously. "Not right now, champ. How about a balloon animal instead?" Bill fumbled with a balloon, twisting it awkwardly. "Here, uh, it's a dog." The boy laughed. "It looks like a worm!" "Exactly! It’s a worm-dog," Bill said, grinning. The boy giggled and ran off. Molly exhaled in relief. "Close one." Bill shook his head. "Let's hurry." They continued to the room, opened the door cautiously, and stared at the mountain of presents. Their eyes widened. Jackpot!" Bill whispered. Molly grinned. "Start grabbing. We've got work to do." As they filled the bag, the door creaked open again. Mrs. Thompson, the party organizer, stood there, arms crossed. "And just what do you think you're doing?" Bill froze. "Um, we're clowns?" Molly elbowed him. "Yeah, we're here to, uh, rearrange the presents." Mrs. Thompson eyed them suspiciously. "Nice try. I knew something was off." Bill sighed. "I knew we should’ve stuck to balloon animals."