Molly adjusted the strap of her duffel bag, her eyes trained on the house at the end of the street. The banner reading “Happy Birthday!” fluttered slightly in the breeze, the bright colors almost taunting them. She glanced at Bill, who was busy examining a map of the neighborhood. “You sure about this, Molly?” Bill asked, squinting at the map. “This is a children’s party. The moral implications are...well, they’re something.” “Relax, Bill,” Molly said, rolling her eyes. “It’s not like we’re robbing a bank. These are just presents. Besides, the kids will get over it.” “I don’t know,” Bill muttered. “I mean, think of the parents.” Molly sighed. “Fine. We’ll make it quick and clean. No one will even know we were there. Now, where’s the best entrance?” Bill traced his finger along the map. “There’s a side door near the garage. It’s probably our best bet. Less traffic, and we can slip in and out without attracting too much attention.” “Perfect,” Molly said, adjusting her cap. “Let’s go.” They walked briskly down the street, trying to look casual despite the tension buzzing between them. As they approached the side door, Molly nodded at Bill. He pulled out a set of lock picks and got to work, his fingers moving deftly. “You know,” he said, not looking up from his task, “I still don’t see why we have to do this during the party. Couldn’t we just wait until afterward?” “Timing is everything, Bill,” Molly replied. “During the party, everyone’s distracted. It’s the perfect cover.” Bill finally clicked the lock open and pushed the door ajar. “Yeah, but won’t it be obvious when the presents go missing?” Molly shrugged. “We’ll worry about that later. Let’s just get the job done.” They slipped inside and found themselves in a dimly lit hallway. The sound of children’s laughter and the occasional burst of party music drifted toward them. Molly peeked around the corner and saw the pile of presents stacked by the living room door. “There they are,” she whispered, pointing. “Let’s move.” They crept down the hallway, avoiding the main party area. Molly could hear snippets of conversation and the distinct sound of a piñata being broken open. She grinned. Perfect timing. As they reached the presents, Bill’s eyes widened. “Molly, these are huge. How are we going to carry them all?” Molly pulled out a couple of large duffel bags from her own bag. “We’ll stuff as much as we can in these. Quick, start loading up.” They began shoving brightly wrapped gifts into the duffel bags, working as quickly and quietly as possible. The voices of the partygoers seemed to grow louder, and Molly’s heart raced. “Hurry, Bill,” she urged. “We don’t have much time.” Bill nodded, his hands shaking slightly as he stuffed another gift into the bag. “I just...I can’t believe we’re doing this.” Molly glanced at him, her expression softening for a moment. “Look, I get it. It’s a kids’ party. But we need this, okay? We’ll figure out the guilt later.” Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. Molly’s eyes went wide, and she grabbed Bill’s arm, dragging him behind a large potted plant just as a harried-looking parent walked by. “Did you hear something?” the parent asked another, who shook their head. Molly held her breath until they passed, then turned to Bill. “Okay, that was too close. Let’s finish up and get out of here.” They hurriedly packed the last of the presents and zipped up the bags. Molly peeked around the corner again, then nodded at Bill. “Coast is clear. Let’s go.” They slipped back down the hallway and out the side door, their bags laden with stolen gifts. Once outside, Molly let out a deep breath. “See? Easy peasy,” she said with a grin. Bill frowned, looking back at the house. “I still don’t feel right about this, Molly. Those kids...” Molly slung her bag over her shoulder. “Like I said, we’ll deal with the guilt later. Right now, we’ve got a job to do.” They headed down the street, their consciences weighing heavily but their steps lightened by the prospect of a successful heist.