Molly crouched behind a bush, peering through the fence at the vibrant chaos of the birthday party. Balloons bobbed in the breeze, and a clown was attempting to juggle while a group of kids shrieked with laughter. Bill, her partner in crime, adjusted his oversized sunglasses and leaned against the fence. “Are you sure this is a good idea?” he asked, scratching his head. “I mean, it’s a kids’ party. What if they catch us?” Molly rolled her eyes. “Bill, it’s perfect! Look at all those presents! We’ll be rich! Just think of all the toys we can sell.” “Yeah, but they’re kids’ toys. What are we going to do with a bunch of stuffed unicorns and glittery princess crowns?” “Sell them! There’s a market for everything, Bill. Besides, we’ll be in and out before they even notice.” “Right, because kids are known for their keen observational skills,” he said, crossing his arms. “What if they start crying? I can’t handle crying kids!” Molly smirked. “You’re a thief, not a babysitter. Just stick to the plan. We go in, grab the presents, and leave. Simple.” “Simple? You call this simple?” Bill gestured at the party. “There’s a clown! Clowns are terrifying!” “Focus, Bill! We need to blend in. Look, there’s a piñata. We can use that as a distraction.” “A piñata? You want to smash a piñata? At a kids’ party? What are you, a monster?” “Not smash it! Just create a diversion. While they’re all distracted, we grab the loot.” Bill sighed, rubbing his temples. “Okay, but if I get caught, I’m blaming you.” “Deal. Now, let’s go over the plan one more time.” “Fine. We sneak in, grab the presents, and then—” “Then we run like the wind! Got it?” “Right. But what if the clown sees us?” “Bill, the clown is not our biggest problem. It’s the parents. They’re the real threat.” “Parents? You think they’ll care about a couple of thieves?” “Trust me, they’ll care. They’ll be more protective than a mama bear. We need to be stealthy.” “Stealthy? You mean like ninjas?” “Exactly! Ninjas! Now, let’s put on our ninja faces.” Bill squinted, trying to look serious. “This is my ninja face?” “More like a confused raccoon, but it’ll do. Now, on three. One… two…” “Wait! What if we get caught?” “Bill! Focus! Three!” They both darted through the fence, landing in the yard with a soft thud. The kids were too busy chasing the clown to notice. Molly pointed toward the pile of presents, her eyes gleaming. “Look at that! It’s like a treasure trove!” “More like a ticking time bomb,” Bill muttered, glancing nervously at the kids. “What if they see us?” “Then we improvise! Just act natural.” “Natural? I’m not a natural thief, Molly!” “Just pretend you’re a kid! Kids are always up to something.” “Right, because that’s not suspicious at all.” “Just grab the biggest box! Go!” Bill hesitated, then lunged for a giant, glittery present. “This better be worth it!” he whispered, as he wrestled it free. “Trust me, it will be!” Molly grinned, already eyeing the next target.