Molly and Bill crouched behind the azalea bushes, peering through the gaps at the childrens' party that was in full swing on the other side of the park. Balloons bobbed cheerfully, and the sounds of laughter and music filled the air. "Alright, Molly, let's run through the plan one more time," said Bill, his voice low and serious. "Okay, but remember, we've got to be quick and quiet," Molly replied, nervously glancing around. "We don’t want to ruin the party for these kids." Bill gave a small nod. "We slip in through the back gate while everyone's distracted by the clown. Grab as many presents as we can carry and be out before anyone notices. Got it?" "And remember," Molly added, "we’re taking the glitter pens last. The kids can’t do without their glitter pens for long. Those are our ace in the hole." Bill chuckled quietly. "I knew you’d come around to my way of thinking. Those glitter pens are gold." Molly smiled but her eyes were sharp. "Alright, ready?" Bill nodded. "Ready." They crept out from behind the bushes and made their way along the edge of the park, doing their best to stay hidden behind the sparse cover. The gate loomed ahead, and for a moment, everything seemed to be going smoothly. Just as they reached the halfway point, the clown let out a particularly loud honk on his horn, drawing the children’s attention to the far end of the park. Molly’s eyes widened. "Now's our chance!" They darted forward, slipping through the gate just as a couple of kids ran past, too engrossed in the clown’s antics to notice them. They found themselves in a small clearing behind a large, colorful bouncy castle. Bill whispered, "Okay, let's split up. You take the left, I’ll take the right. We meet back here in two minutes." "Got it." Molly nodded, taking a deep breath before disappearing behind a row of chairs. As she moved through the party, Molly carefully slipped presents into her backpack. The kids were oblivious, their attention riveted by the clown’s juggling act. Molly’s heart pounded in her chest, but she kept moving, grabbing another present, and another. Meanwhile, Bill was having similar success. He stuffed packages into his duffel bag, moving swiftly from one group to another. The party was in such chaos that no one saw him, not even the parents. Just as they were about to meet back at the rendezvous point, chaos erupted. A small girl had noticed her present missing from the pile. "Hey! Where did my present go?!" she cried out. Molly and Bill froze. She exchanged a panicked look with Bill. "We have to move, now!" she hissed. They dashed towards each other, the sound of concerned murmurs growing louder behind them. Molly scooped up the last of the glitter pens, shoving them into her bag just as the clown started bellowing about the missing gifts. "Run!" Bill shouted, and they bolted for the gate, bags bouncing against their backs. The clown, now aware of their presence, pointed directly at them, his face twisted in anger beneath the makeup. "Stop those thieves!" he yelled, but it was too late. They sprinted out of the park and into the safety of the alleyway, hearts pounding. "Did we get everything?" Molly asked, panting. Bill peeked inside his duffel bag. "Looks like it. Even the glitter pens." Molly grinned. "Excellent. Now, let’s get out of here before they catch up." They hurried down the alley, the sounds of the party receding behind them. "Did you see their faces?" Bill laughed. "They were so confused!" Molly chuckled. "Yeah, but we’ve got to plan our escape routes better next time. That was too close for comfort." "Come on, Molly," Bill grinned. "You have to admit, it adds to the thrill." She raised an eyebrow but couldn’t help