"Alright Bill, you've got a plan for those kids guarding the gifts?" Molly asked, eyeing the colorful gift-laden table across the room. Bill grinned. "Leave it to me. I'll charm 'em with jokes and balloon animals. They won't suspect a thing." Molly snorted. ""Easy for you to say, Casanova." She adjusted her ascot. "Last time you tried your smooth moves, three cops ended up engaged to be married." ""Oww, way to bring up the past!" Bill pouted, straightening his pageboy cap. "Anyway, you just stick to the plan. Create a distraction." Molly rolled her eyes but smirked. "As you wish, Jethro." Bill sauntered over to the gaggle of children, mustering his most disarming smile. "Hello little boys and girls! Who wants a fun balloon animal? I can make a-" His crooked grin faltered as a freckle-faced girl brandishing a tinsel wand pointed it at him. "No! No funny business! We're on high alert! I've been training all year for this!" "B...but mademoiselle," Bill stammered, "I only wish to merrily spread..." "Silence! The only balloon animal you'll be making is a swan. And not the nice kind!" Bill gulp ed as a small boy crept up beside him holding a glow stick, eyes narrowed. "Wot's in yer pocket, or is yer just glad t'see us?" The room tilted as the children began tightening their siege. Bill swallowed hard, sweat beading on his forehead. How did it come to this? Molly was right. Smooth moves. Smooth moves indeed. Suddenly, the lights flickered. A bloodcurdling scream pierced the air. "AAAAH! The monster! It's loose!" Chaos erupted as children scattered in terror. Bill blinked, stunned at the sight of Molly wearing a ratty rubber mask and flailing, "THE CHILDREN! THE CHILDREN! MINE! MINE! AAAAHHHH!" He goggled as she wrenched open the door, spilling out in a tangle of cheap fright-cosplay. "Lavatory pass! Lavatory pass!" she babbled as she fled the warpath of panicked kids. Bill watched the fleeing back of his partner, shaking his head in rueful amusement. Okay. Time to go pro. He whipped out his bag full of gift grabber anchors. Playtime was over. Grabbing the table legs, he strapped the anchorssecurely underneath, lashing the rest of the ropes through the window. With a grunt and a heave, he yanked the entire table perpendicular to the floor and onto its side, gifts spilling everywhere in a glittering rainbow. "Marcy's magic end-of-the-party window escape!" he announced proudly. The t exempelares stopped screaming and stared at him in stupefied awe. "Amazing!" ""Thank you, thank you!" Bill said, hurrying to wrangle the presents onto the waiting sleigh outside. "And remember kids, magic isn't real! Only believe in what you can take!" As Bill tugged the mechanic slay of unicycles into the night, a smirk crossed his face. Yeah. Smooth moves. He just wished Molly could see him now.||