“Okay, Bill, let’s run through this one more time,” said Molly, adjusting her clown wig in the dingy basement. Bill looked up from tying his oversized clown shoes, his face already smeared with greasepaint. “Right, Molly. So we sneak into the backyard. We've got the trampoline here, the swings there. The kids won't pay any attention to us.” “Good, now about the presents. Where are they keeping them?” Molly asked, tapping the floor like it was a treasure map. “In the living room, under the table,” Bill replied, holding up a blueprint of the house. “Mom and Dad will be in the kitchen, serving crappy hors d'oeuvres and soda.” “Perfect. We blend in, do a few balloon tricks, maybe botch a magic trick,” Molly said, grinning. “Then we swipe the goods and vamoose.” “What about Timmy, the birthday boy? He’s gonna notice if his presents disappear,” Bill pointed out. “Divert, Bill. We’ll use him as a decoy. You know, send him on a wild goose chase looking for his ‘surprise gift’ in the backyard.” Bill nodded eagerly. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll tell him I saw a huge package that looks like a new bike out by the pool.” Molly reached into her pocket and pulled out a whoopee cushion. “Remember, distractions are key. You see any adult looking our way, slap one of these babies down. Kids love 'em.” “Got it. And what about the dog? I heard they’ve got a vicious Chihuahua,” Bill said, eyes widening slightly. “Dog treats, Bill. I’ve got a pocketful of ‘em. That little rat will be our best friend in no time,” Molly assured him. Bill looked relieved. “Alright, just make sure it’s not chocolate. We don’t want a dead dog on our conscience.” “Focus, Bill! Now, the escape plan. The getaway car is parked two blocks away, right?” Molly asked, pointing to a spot on their crude map. “Yeah, it’s parked near that ice cream truck. We’ll blend in with the parents leaving with sugared-up kids. No one will notice us,” Bill said, rubbing his hands together. “Excellent. And remember, smile. We’re clowns. We gotta sell it,” Molly reminded him, showing her best exaggerated grin. “So we go in, cause a ruckus, grab the loot, distract the kids, and escape unnoticed,” Bill summarized. “Exactly. And don’t forget the part where we don’t get caught,” Molly added with a chuckle. “Right, crucial step,” Bill agreed, chuckling too. Molly took a deep breath, straightening her rainbow suspenders. “Alright, showtime. Are you ready?” “As I’ll ever be,” Bill replied, adjusting his red nose. Molly nodded. “Let’s go steal some birthday joy.” They made their way up the creaky basement stairs, their footsteps echoing ominously. At the top, they paused, listening to the distant sounds of children's laughter and party music. “Think of it this way,” Bill whispered, “we’re redistributing fun. Those kids probably have too many toys anyway.” “Exactly,” Molly whispered back, pushing open the door. “We’re like the Robin Hoods of birthday parties.” They stepped out into the sunshine, their colorful disguises fooling everyone as they approached the buzzing party. The kids didn't even glance their way; clowns were a common sight at such events. Molly and Bill exchanged one last conspiratorial look before they plunged into the midst of balloon animals and shrieking children, ready to turn a birthday party into their own private goldmine.