Molly leaned against the wall of the alley, her eyes darting to the brightly colored balloons bobbing in the breeze. “You sure about this, Bill? I mean, it’s a kid’s party. What if they catch us?” Bill adjusted his black beanie, a grin spreading across his face. “Come on, Molly! Think of the loot! Those kids don’t even know what they have. It’s like a treasure trove of toys!” “Yeah, but they’re kids! What if they start crying? I can’t handle a bunch of sobbing toddlers.” “Relax! We’ll be in and out before they even notice. Besides, we’re doing them a favor. They’ll get new toys next year. We’re just… recycling.” “Recycling? Is that what we’re calling it now? I thought we were thieves, not environmentalists.” “Same difference! Look, we’ll wear disguises. No one will suspect a thing. Just a couple of clowns at a party.” “Clowns? You want us to dress as clowns? You know I have a phobia of clowns, right?” “Okay, no clowns. How about we just wear masks? Simple, effective.” “Fine, but I’m not wearing anything that squeaks. I draw the line at squeaky shoes.” “Deal! So, what’s the plan? We sneak in through the back, grab the presents, and slip out?” “Right, but what if there’s a guard? Or worse, a parent? You know how protective they can be.” “Parents? Pfft! They’ll be too busy taking selfies with their kids. We’ll blend right in.” “Blend in? You think we can blend in with a bunch of five-year-olds?” “Sure! Just act like you’re really into the party. You know, dance a little, maybe juggle some balloons.” “Juggle? I can barely keep my own life together, let alone a bunch of balloons!” “Okay, no juggling. Just follow my lead. We’ll be like ninjas. Silent, stealthy ninjas.” “Ninjas? You do realize ninjas don’t wear bright colors, right? Look at us! We’re practically neon signs!” “Fine! We’ll be stealthy neon ninjas. It’s a new trend.” “Great. So what’s the first step, oh wise neon ninja?” “First, we need to scope out the place. See where the presents are stashed.” “Right. And how do we do that without looking suspicious?” “Easy! We just act like we’re parents. You know, ask about the cake or something.” “Ask about the cake? Bill, I can’t even bake a cupcake without burning it!” “Then you’ll be the perfect parent! Just look concerned and ask if they have gluten-free options.” “Gluten-free? At a kid’s party? You’re out of your mind!” “Trust me! It’ll work. Now, let’s go before they cut the cake. We need to be in and out before the sugar rush hits.” “Okay, but if I see one kid with a tear in their eye, I’m out. I’m not dealing with that.” “Deal! Now, let’s go steal some joy… I mean, presents!” “Joy? You’re really stretching it, Bill. But fine, let’s do this.” With a deep breath, they stepped out of the shadows, ready to embrace their neon ninja destiny.