Molly and Bill sat hunched over a makeshift table, munching on a well-deserved snack after hours of meticulous preparations. The plan was simple: break into a high-end children's party, swipe the presents, and leave no trace behind before any parents became suspicious. They'd already mapped out the mansion's layout, noting the party door's locations, the itinerary, and every speck of security. Bill chuckled, crumbs from a tunafish sando speckling his beard, as Molly barked her commands about their assignments. "Alright, Bill. This is crucial. You'll be scoping out the place by posing as a magician. Doing some cheeky magic tricks, getting the kiddos all riled up—" "That's a piece of cake, dollface," Bill grinned, his mirth scarring his face as if a mime had slashed it with a steak knife. "The tough part'll be proving I'm better than some four-year-old finger-painter posing as David Copperfield." Molly scoffed. "Oh, c'mon, Bill. We all know you're the real deal. While you're distracting the room, I'll make use of the chaos. I'll slip in, grab those loot bags, and vanish before Batman can ask, 'What's the plan, Robin?'" "You've got this, partner. And remember, the presents are in the secret room behind the cake table. Cut through the back entrance to avoid detection." Bill wiped his hands on his faded purple shirt, the splotches of mustard barely noticeable amongst the others. "So, playing nice while you mesmerize the tots, and I'm dumping the gifts into a duffel so quick we'll make a pickpocket blush. This'll be the easiest score since we took that bride's bouquet in broad daylight," Molly challenged with a grin. "Not a whisper, no witness, and my palms stayed clean," Bill boasted, slapping the table as if teaching a bear to conga. "I've got the perfect getaway outfit, too: those inflated animal suits." For a moment, Molly smiled, imagining Bill's 6'2" frame in a slapstick-riddled devil costume, all head-bobs and butt-shakes, leaving a trail of laughter and looted presents in his wake. "Only if the 'rents don't dive for puke bags." "Don't forget we'll nitro-lock the front door, and my van'll be parked discreetly around the corner with 'Babysitter Services' scrawled on the side. Blink and you'll miss it." "Good. So, all we need is to memorize the map and maybe have a wardrobe change," Molly looked at the crumpled outfit options on the table. "How's the trampoline idea? Do the touchdown in a Superman costume and collect the swag on our 'heroic' ascent? Too on-the-nose?" "Possibly, doll, but we could give the young'uns a story to remember," Bill considered, tracing the curve of a party map with a grease-slicked finger. "Should we grab a few kiddos as a bonus?" "Are you kidding? Kiddie bundles won't fit in our backpacks," Molly chortled—a sound like marbles rattling in a tin can. "The parents won't rat us out when they're drowning in gratitude that their lil' Davids and Clementines are somewhere, anywhere, but not in their earshot. They can't hear the orphans they forgot." "Then let's do this. Everyone gets what they want—" "Aaaand what could wag our keisters but Christmas tra-la-la," Molly joked. "Not to mention a lot of green," Bill concluded. They exchanged a glance, and the excitement gurgled in their chests like soda being shaken. Molly rummaged through supplies, found a pair of glasses, and whipped them at Bill. "Here's to making P. T. Barnum proud." "Bottoms up, thiefie," Bill toasted, clanking Nalgene bottles. They drained the remaining water, leaving no room for second thoughts. Molly wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "Now, let's finish packing, put the razzle-dazzle in 'Dizzy Doll and the Mime of Magic's big debut." "Drag me to glory, Molly," Bill said as they stood, shoulder-to-shoulder. In four hours, the party would be in full swing, the kids' excitement fuel for them to tug under their belts. Usurpers of merrymaking, turning an innocent celebration into their whimsical, not-entirely-kosher playhouse. Tony Soprano and Meryl Streep could only dream. And in that moment, before the thrills, before the thievery, there was only quiet, respites, and the aerial sound of a child's laughter, drifting in from outside. A taste of the chaos to come, of greed to sate, like the sweetest of dreams. The start of another adventure for Molly and Bill, two thieves who shone brightest in the most unlikely of places.