Molly leaned against the wall of the dingy alleyway, her eyes scanning the street for any signs of activity. Bill fidgeted beside her, twirling a lock pick between his fingers like a nervous bomb defuser. "I still don't understand why we can't just steal from grown-ups," Bill whispered, irritated. "They've got more expensive stuff! I mean, have you seen the jewelry in that jeweler's store? Diamonds the size of toy cars." Molly's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Because, darling, where's the fun in that? We break into a children's party, we're legends. We pull off a heist for the kiddies, and they tell their friends, and they tell their friends, and eventually, we get the street cred." Bill groaned, shaking his head. "Street cred? You're as bad as that rapping raccoon." Ignoring the dig, Molly continued, "Besides, it's Saturday morning, and who's around? The kids and their parents. Easy pickings. Plus, think of the loot! Hot wheels, Lego sets, barbies—I mean, it's like Christmas in July!" Bill begrudgingly conceded. "Fine, but if we get caught, I'm blaming you." Molly grinned, flipping the brim of her baseball cap. "Deal. Now, let's get this show on the road. What's the plan?" Bill pulled out a crumpled map. "The party's at Sunnyvale Elementary School. It's a birthday bash for little Timmy's sixth birthday. I got the invite from the mom's coworker—an old flame, actually. The presents will be piled high on the stage. We'll sneak in through the janitor's closet, bypass security, and hit the stage when the little darlings are all jumping around in the bouncy castle." Molly snorted. "Bouncy castle? You're not as young as you used to be, Bill. I'll do the jumping." Bill shot her a dry look. "Ha-ha. Very funny. So, we go in, grab the presents, and make a quick exit." Molly nodded, her ponytail bobbing. "And then we cadge free balloons from the disappointed parents." As they approached the school building, Bill contained his nerves with a shaky breath. "Hey, Mol, you talk; I'll pick the lock." Molly winked at him. "You got it, partner." Inside, they groped their way through the dim halls, their whispers echoing like ghosts. Molly tried to calm her racing heart with deep breaths. Bill inserted the pick, wiggling it expertly. The door creaked open, and they tiptoed into the janitor's closet. "The perfect hiding place," Molly whispered, eyes bright with excitement. Bill smirked. "Why, thank you, kind janitor." In the storage room, they changed into silly costumes—an inflatable gnome, a rainbow tutu, and a rainbow-colored wig—to blend in with the party chaos. Molly adjusted the oversized hat, while Bill practiced his best clown honk. Pleased with their disguises, they sneaked into the party area. Children screamed and laughed, their faces sticky with candy. The band played a sugar-overloaded version of the Wiggles; the parents, oblivious to the impending theft, sipped coffee and chatted. "Alright, we move when they hit the, uh, what's that silly song about a penguin?" Bill asked. Molly checked her watch. "It's 'Hot Potato'." At the cue, they hurried towards the stage, tossing presents into a large sack slung over their shoulders. A child gasped, and a parent stared, but no one gave them more than a second glance. "Moving like ninjas!" Molly whispered, beaming. Bill halted, his face contorted with doubt. "Molly, is this wrong? Should we still be doing this?" Molly glanced around, a devilish sparkle in her eyes. "Wrong? Nah! And besides, we're almost done. A few more presents, and we can call it a day." Bill grudgingly continued their caper. As they reached the pièce de résistance—a towering pile of boxes—Molly tossed a party hat into a parent's lap, eliciting a distracted giggle. The bandmaster, a grizzled old clarinetist, called the final song. "It's time for cake, everyone!" With the distraction of cake and balloons, the parents began to disperse. Molly and Bill made their escape, their sack laden with loot. Breathless and exhilarated, they slipped back into the janitor's closet. "We did it!" Molly shouted, triumphant. Bill grinned, his eyes gleaming. "Now to spend our ill-gotten gains." As they stowed the stolen items in the getaway van, Molly turned to her partner, her face radiant. "We'll tell the tale for years to come, Billy Boy. We'll be the notorious Molly and Bill, the children's party bandits!" Bill arched an eyebrow. "Don't forget, you owe me a lifetime of balloon disdain." Molly laughed, slapping him on the back. "Consider it payment in full, my partner in crime."