Molly peeked through the thick bushes bordering the sunlit backyard where a bounce house, festooned with colorful streamers, trembled with the laughter of hyperactive children. She turned to her accomplice, Bill, who was fiddling anxiously with a clown's bow tie. "I still don't get why I have to be the clown," Bill grunted, finally securing the polka-dotted tie. "Because you're naturally funny-looking, and I can't juggle," Molly retorted with a smirk, checking her oversized magician's coat for hidden pockets. "Okay, let’s synchronize. The Johnsons are too busy catering to a horde of sugar-fueled ankle-biters to notice us. We swoop in, dazzle, grab the gifts, and bounce out. Easy-peasy." Bill sighed, pulling at the elastic waistband of his absurdly baggy pants. "You make it sound like we’re just pinching a pie from a windowsill." "Bigger scale, same principle," Molly assured him, glancing back at the party. "They’ll be eating out of our hands." "Speaking of eating, do I really have to make balloon animals? I’m more likely to pop them than anything else." "Improvise, Bill. Kids love a disaster as much as a spectacle." Taking a deep breath, they strode toward the garden gate. Molly adjusted her magician’s hat and whispered, "Showtime." Bill plastered on a grin that was more grimace than glee. As they entered, a flock of kids descended on them, squealing at the sight of the clown and magician. "Ooh, are you here to show us tricks?" a small girl in a princess dress asked Molly. "Absolutely, my dear!" Molly’s voice oozed charm. "But first, my funny friend here has some balloon magic for you all!" All eyes turned to Bill. Sweating, he fumbled with a balloon, his hands shaking, before it gave a sad squeak and deflated. The kids burst into laughter. “Happens to the best of us,” Molly quickly interjected, drawing a deck of cards from her sleeve. “Now, who wants to see a real trick?” The distracted children didn’t notice as Molly subtly winked at Bill, signaling him towards the stack of brightly wrapped gifts piled high on a nearby table. Bill edged towards the treasure trove, clown shoes squeaking comically with every step. As he reached for the largest, shiniest package, a boy’s voice rang out. “Hey! The clown is stealing the presents!” Bill froze, a ludicrously wrapped box in his hands. “No, no, little buddy. Just making sure no one else swipes them!” His laugh was a nervous chortle. Molly saw the brewing disaster. "And for my final trick," she announced loudly, "I will make all the presents... disappear!" Confusion and then awe spread among the kids as Molly draped a large black cloth over the presents, Bill swiftly stuffing them into two large bags beneath it. In a grand flourish, Molly whisked the cloth away with a flourish, revealing... nothing. The children gasped, their disappointment turning into delight at the 'magic'. Sweating but smiling, Bill and Molly bowed amid cheers and claps from the kids. As the party's focus turned to cake, the pair slipped out, their loot in tow. “Next time,” Bill panted as they disappeared from view, "let's just stick to pies, okay?" Molly laughed, adjusting her magician hat. "What, and miss all this fun?"