Bill shook Molly's hand firmly. "This party's a gold mine, Molly. There'll be nothing but plush toys and squeaky rubber ducks." Molly's eyes flickered with excitement. "The things we could do with all that, Bill! Eat egg-shaped cakes, play with toy dinosaurs; it's paradise for a couple of adept plunderers." "Paradise," Molly echoed, her voice crackling with mischief. "Very ironic, since we're about to ruin the paradise these poor kids cling to so tightly." Bill grinned. "Now, envision our faces. Heartbroken kids with legendary tales, right?" Molly smirked, slipping a packet from her pocket. "Here's the plan. Molly is for covert entry. We're so squeaky clean that no adult will question our motive." "The gap in the fence is our gateway," Bill added, thumbing through a list. "I'll wear the baby Bib. Perfectly innocent, eh?" Molly nodded. "The plan is daring yet so so simple. We meet back here at sunset, and we have a whole evening of fun—without giving the police a reason to love us." "Agreed," Bill said. "But let's not get cocky." He tapped his nose. "Let's just hope the kids aren't gifted at hide-and-seek." "Speaking of which,” she teased, pointing at him. "I overheard Sarah says that the game's 'keep away from the clown.' I suggest keeping that in mind." Bill played along, patting his pocket. "On that note, I've brought my foolproof—er, I mean, child-proof—security plan." "Is it a stuffed elephant with countdown ticks?" Molly quipped, grinning through their half-hearted giggles. "No, it's a real Plinky, and just in case," he assured her with a solemn nod. "And if kids happen to find our bag of treasure, we'll play it straight: it's Santa's lost loot for verification." "Or if a kid's brave enough, we blend in and become the greatest treasure hunters in town. Silent Bob could learn from us," Molly winked. Bill's smirk never faded. “Silent Bob, especially if he ends up telling us we're the biggest prat we know! Christmas seems too good to pass up." Molly couldn't resist the pun. "Just promise me we don't do the 'jolly-felf'." Their laughter faded into anticipation. The thieves, riff-raff of joy, enthusiastically reviewed plays like pro treaty-signers before waltzing into a ferociously fun-filled, deviously mild disposition-altering sit-in at a children's merriment-off by dawn.