Molly and Bill crouched behind a hedge, peering at the house across the street. Bright balloons and a banner that read "Happy Birthday!" fluttered in the breeze. Children's laughter and the sounds of a bouncing castle filled the air. "Okay, Molly, run it down for me one more time," Bill said, adjusting his fake mustache. "Right. So, we wait until the clown starts his magic show. That's when all the kids will be distracted. We sneak in through the back door, grab as many presents as we can carry, and slip out before anyone notices," Molly replied, glancing at her watch. "What if the kids see us? Or, you know, the parents?" Molly rolled her eyes. "Bill, how many times do I have to tell you? They’ll all be watching the clown. It’s the perfect diversion. Trust me." Bill wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. "I don’t know, Molly. This feels... riskier than our usual gigs. Stealing from kids?" Molly nudged him with her elbow. "Don’t think of it like that. We’re providing a service. These kids will get over it. They’re resilient. Besides, they get to be part of the greatest heist story ever told. Win-win." "If you say so." Bill sighed, still unconvinced. "We need the distraction," Molly pressed. "That’s our window." "Fine. So, as soon as the clown starts his act, we go in?" "Exactly. And remember, no funny business. In and out. We don’t want to be around when the birthday boy realizes his gifts are gone." Bill nodded reluctantly. "Got it." They watched as the clown began setting up his props. A group of children gathered around, their eyes wide with excitement. "Showtime," Molly whispered. They crept through the side gate, keeping low to the ground. The back door was slightly ajar, just as Molly had predicted. "Now or never," she said, pushing the door open. They slipped inside, finding themselves in the kitchen. The house was quiet, save for the muffled sounds of the party outside. Molly pointed towards the living room, where a pile of presents was stacked under a decorated tree. "There they are," she said, her eyes lighting up. "Easy does it," Bill replied, tiptoeing across the room. They started stuffing presents into their oversized bags, working quickly but carefully. "How’s it going over there?" Molly asked, her voice low. "Almost done," Bill said, stuffing another brightly wrapped box into his bag. "You?" "Same. Let’s grab a couple more and—" Suddenly, a noise from the hallway made them freeze. Footsteps. Molly and Bill exchanged a panicked glance. "Quick, hide!" Molly hissed, ducking behind a sofa. Bill scrambled to follow, squeezing into the tight space beside her. They held their breath as the footsteps grew louder. A woman in a party hat walked into the living room, carrying a tray of cupcakes. She paused, looking around suspiciously. "Hello? Is someone there?" she called out. Molly and Bill stayed perfectly still, barely daring to breathe. After a tense moment, the woman shrugged and left the room, humming a cheerful tune. "That was close," Bill whispered, his voice shaking. "Too close," Molly agreed. "Let’s get out of here." They hurriedly grabbed the remaining presents, their hands shaking. As they made their way back towards the kitchen, Molly’s foot caught on a loose rug, sending her sprawling to the ground. The presents scattered across the floor. "Molly!" Bill hissed, helping her up. "I’m okay," she muttered, quickly gathering the fallen gifts. They finally made it back outside, hearts pounding. The children were still engrossed in the clown's performance, none the wiser. "We did it," Molly said, breathing a sigh of relief. "Yeah, but let’s not do that again," Bill replied, wiping his brow. "Aw, come on, Bill. It was kind of thrilling, wasn’t it?" Molly grinned. Bill shook his head, but couldn’t help but smile. "Yeah, in a terrifying sort of way." They hurried down the street, their bags heavy with ill-gotten gains. The sounds of the party faded behind them, but the thrill of their daring heist lingered in the air.