Molly and Bill crouched behind a row of bushes, peering through the leaves at the brightly decorated house across the street. Balloons bobbed in the breeze, and the sound of children's laughter filled the air. "Alright, Bill, what's the plan?" Molly whispered, adjusting her black beanie. Bill pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and smoothed it out on his knee. "First, we blend in. We need to look like we belong at this party." Molly raised an eyebrow. "You mean, like, wear party hats and stuff?" "Exactly," Bill said, nodding. "I've got a couple in my bag. We'll put them on, walk in like we own the place, and head straight for the presents." Molly glanced at the house again. "And what if someone asks who we are?" Bill grinned. "We say we're distant relatives. Kids never question that stuff." Molly sighed. "Fine, but if this goes south, I'm blaming you." Bill handed her a bright blue party hat. "Deal. Now, let's go." They slipped out from behind the bushes and casually strolled across the street. As they approached the front door, Bill adjusted his hat and put on his best smile. Molly followed suit, though her smile looked more like a grimace. Inside, the house was a whirlwind of activity. Kids ran around with cake-smeared faces, and parents chatted in small groups. A large table in the corner was piled high with colorful presents. "There they are," Bill whispered, nodding towards the table. "Let's mingle for a bit, then make our move." Molly grabbed a cup of punch and pretended to sip it. "Mingle, huh? You mean, like, talk to people?" "Exactly," Bill said, grabbing a cupcake. "Just act natural." A woman with a baby on her hip approached them. "Hi there! I don't think we've met. I'm Sarah, the birthday boy's mom." Bill extended his hand. "Nice to meet you, Sarah. I'm Bill, and this is my cousin Molly. We're, uh, distant relatives." Sarah smiled warmly. "Oh, how lovely! It's always nice to have family around. Enjoy the party!" As Sarah walked away, Molly elbowed Bill. "Distant relatives? Really?" "Hey, it worked, didn't it?" Bill said, taking a bite of his cupcake. "Now, let's get those presents." They edged closer to the table, trying to look inconspicuous. Bill grabbed a large gift bag and started stuffing smaller presents into it. "Bill, hurry up," Molly hissed, glancing around nervously. "Almost done," Bill muttered, shoving a teddy bear into the bag. Just then, a little girl with pigtails tugged on Molly's sleeve. "Are you stealing the presents?" Molly's eyes widened. "Uh, no, sweetie. We're just, um, organizing them." The girl frowned. "But my mommy said only the birthday boy can open the presents." Bill straightened up, the bag full of gifts clutched in his hand. "Well, your mommy is right. We're just helping out." The girl eyed them suspiciously but eventually shrugged and ran off. "Let's get out of here," Molly whispered urgently. They made their way to the door, trying to look casual. Just as they reached the exit, Sarah called out, "Leaving so soon?" Bill forced a smile. "Yeah, we have another party to get to. Thanks for having us!" As they stepped outside, Molly let out a sigh of relief. "That was too close." Bill grinned, holding up the bag of presents. "But we did it. Happy birthday to us." Molly shook her head, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. "You're impossible, Bill." "And you love it," Bill said, tipping his party hat. "Now, let's get out of here before someone notices." They hurried down the street, the sound of children's laughter fading behind them.