Molly and Bill crouched behind the inflatable dinosaur, peering out at the chaos unfolding on the other side of the garden fence. Balloons bobbed in the breeze, and children sprinted past, faces painted and sticky with candy residue. The prize, a mountain of brightly wrapped presents, sat temptingly beneath a large banner that read "Happy Birthday, Timmy!" Molly nudged Bill, her eyes alight with mischief. "Distract with balloon animals?" Bill snorted softly. "You think I'm gonna twist a decent giraffe?" "Fair point," Molly admitted, scanning the scene. "Face paint, then?" "Smudge their tiger stripes and send 'em roaring elsewhere?" "Precisely," she winked. "And the cake's the backup plan." Bill's eyes widened with understanding. "Right, a frosting stampede." "Exactly. Once they're elbows-deep in sugar..." Molly gestured to the pile of gifts as though she were unveiling a priceless artifact. Bill nodded, stifling a laugh. "And we waltz right out, undetected." "Simple yet elegant," Molly asserted. "Let's not underestimate the little devils," Bill cautioned, casting a glance at a kid who'd just body-slammed another in pursuit of a rogue balloon. "Relax," Molly assured, a grin playing at her lips. "We'll be legends in the under-five circuit." With synchronized stealth, they vanished into the vibrant chaos of birthday pandemonium.