“Are you sure about this, Molly? We’re not exactly known for our subtlety.” Bill adjusted his ill-fitting tuxedo, the bowtie dangling precariously from his collar like a drunken bat. Molly, a vision in a sequined evening gown and a pair of bolt cutters disguised as glittery clutch, rolled her eyes. “We’ll be fine. Just follow my lead and try not to sneeze on the bouncy castle. You know what clowns charge for those things?” “More than we’ll make off this little scheme,” Bill mumbled, picking something unidentifiable off his rented shoe. “Seriously, Molly, a bunch of five-year-olds' birthday presents? What are we after, juice boxes and half-eaten cupcakes?” “Think bigger, Bill! We’re after the motherload: unopened Lego sets, brand-new video games, maybe even one of those robotic ponies all the kids are crazy about! We pawn those bad boys, we’re set for months!” Bill ran a hand through his thinning hair. “I don’t know, Molly. This feels…wrong. Exploiting children. What happened to our morals? Our sense of decency? Our aversion to glitter?” He gestured at Molly’s dress, which seemed to shimmer under its own power. “We left them in that escape room in Reno with that mime. Remember? We barely got out of that one,” Molly chuckled, her eyes twinkling. “Besides, this is practically a public service. Teaching these kids a valuable lesson about the fleeting nature of material possessions.” “By…stealing their presents?” Bill looked unconvinced. “Exactly! It's like a whimsical form of early childhood education!” “Whimsical theft?” “Precisely!” Molly beamed, patting Bill’s arm with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Now come on, we’ve got a bouncy castle to infiltrate.” She strode confidently toward the pastel-colored madness of the party, leaving a trail of glitter and a bewildered Bill trailing in her wake. “Remind me again why I’m partners with you?” Bill mumbled, tripping over a rogue bouncy ball as he hurried after her. “Because you secretly love my sparkly dresses,” Molly called over her shoulder, her laughter mingling with the joyous shrieks of children high on sugar and the promise of presents. Bill just sighed, already mentally composing the apology note they’d leave behind.