Molly leaned against the worn, creaky porch, her eyes locked on the colorful bouncy castle that dominated the front yard. The party was in full swing, and the house was a cacophony of laughter and squeals. Bill, her partner in crime, stood beside her, fidgeting with a bag of tools he’d swiped from a nearby hardware store. "Are you sure about this, Mol?" Bill whispered, his voice tinged with a hint of nervousness. "A kids' party? I mean, it’s cute and all, but—" "Cute?" Molly chuckled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Bill, this is our golden ticket! Think about it: a house full of unsuspecting parents and kids, all distracted by clowns and cake. We can walk in, grab the presents, and be out before anyone even notices." Bill scratched his head, his hair standing up in odd directions. "But what if someone catches us? We’ll look like total creeps!" "Which is why we’re going in disguise," Molly replied, pulling out a red clown nose and a pair of oversized glasses. "We’ll blend in. You’ll be the balloon animal guy, and I’ll be the face painter. Easy peasy." Bill’s eyes widened. "A clown? Mol, I’m not wearing a clown suit!" "Relax, you don’t have to wear the full suit. Just the nose and the glasses," Molly insisted, pushing the items into his hands. "And trust me, it’s the only way we’re getting in without raising suspicion." Bill hesitated, but then a gust of wind carried the sound of a kid’s excited scream. His resolve crumbled. "Alright, but if we get caught, I’m blaming you." Molly grinned, her confidence infectious. "Too late for second thoughts, Bill. We’ve already scoped out the house, and the presents are right there under that tree. It’s now or never." Bill sighed, putting on the clown nose and glasses. "Fine. But if I end up in a cell with a bunch of clowns for neighbors, I’m haun—" "Haunting me? You mean like you did when we got caught stealing that giant chocolate statue?" Molly interrupted, her laughter cutting through the air. "I’ve still got nightmares about that." Bill’s face turned a shade of pink. "Hey, that was one time! And it was a really good heist—until the sprinklers went off." "Speaking of sprinklers, let’s not linger outside," Molly said, grabbing a bag of face paints. "We need to act natural. You start making balloon animals, and I’ll start painting faces. Got it?" "Got it," Bill muttered, stuffing his hands into the bag of supplies. "But if one kid starts crying, we’re out of here, deal?" "Deal," Molly agreed, her smile wide and reassuring. "Now, let’s go make some magic happen." They approached the party, blending in seamlessly. Molly started painting faces, her hands moving deftly as she created designs of unicorns and superheroes. Bill, on the other hand, fumbled with the balloon animals, his fingers clumsy from nerves. "Hey, mister, can I have a balloon animal?" a little girl asked, tugging on Bill’s pant leg. Bill looked down, his heart racing. "Uh, sure, little one. What kind would you like?" The girl’s eyes sparkled. "A doggy!" Bill nodded, his mind racing. He twisted and turned the balloon, trying to remember the steps from a YouTube tutorial he’d watched the night before. Molly, seeing his struggle, quickly whispered, "Pretend it’s a snake, it’s easier." Bill followed her advice, and soon, a lumpy, misshapen "dog" was in the girl’s hands. She clapped with delight, holding it close. "Thank you, mister!" Bill let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. "You’re welcome, sweetie." Molly nodded approvingly, her focus never wavering from her task. "Nice work, Bill. Now, let’s get those presents." Bill glanced around, making sure no one was watching. "Okay, but let’s be quick. I don’t want to stick around too long." Molly handed off the last face-painted kid and joined Bill by the tree. They quickly stuffed the presents into their bags, their movements swift and efficient. Just as they were about to make their getaway, a loud, high-pitched voice rang out. "Hey, you two! What are you doing with all those presents?" Molly and Bill froze, turning to see a woman with a clipboard and a stern expression. "We—uh—" Bill’s mind raced, and he blurted out, "We’re just trying to give the kids an extra surprise! You know, something special." The woman’s expression softened, her eyes twinkling. "Oh, that’s so sweet! But you might want to check with the parents first. They’re over by the cake." Molly and Bill exchanged a relieved glance. "Of course, thank you," Molly said, her voice steady. They hurried over to the parents, who were indeed busy with cake and conversations. "Excuse us," Molly said, her charm on full display. "We’re the entertainment, and we just wanted to make sure it’s okay to give the kids some extra presents." The parents, clearly flattered by the gesture, nodded enthusiastically. "Sure, that’s totally fine! Thank you so much!" Bill and Molly shared a victorious smile. "Thank you, you’re very kind," Bill said, his relief palpable. They made a quick exit, blending back into the crowd and slipping away unnoticed. Once they were a safe distance from the party, they burst into laughter, the tension melting away. "Did you see her face when you said it was a surprise?" Molly said, her laughter bubbling up. Bill chuckled, shaking his head. "I can’t believe we actually pulled it off. And with such a stupid excuse!" Molly high-fived him, her spirits soaring. "Best heist ever, Bill. Best heist ever."