Molly leaned back in the rickety kitchen chair, her boots propped up on the scratched linoleum table. She twirled a lock of auburn hair around her finger and raised an eyebrow at Bill. "So you're telling me we're actually going to rob a kid's birthday party?" Bill adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses and spread out a crude hand-drawn map of the suburban backyard. "Not just any party. This is the Jameson kid's sixth birthday. His parents are loaded, and those presents are going to be worth a fortune." Molly snorted. "We're stealing from six-year-olds now? Classy." "Hey, desperate times," Bill muttered, tracing a line across the map. "Their security system is a joke. One teenager watching a bunch of sugar-hyped kids? Easy pickings." "I can't believe I'm saying this, but walk me through the plan," Molly said, leaning forward. Bill's finger pointed to a small diagram. "We'll dress as party entertainers. I'm thinking magician and face painter. Perfect cover." "You as a magician?" Molly burst out laughing. "The last time you tried a magic trick, you set your aunt's curtains on fire." "That was ONE time," Bill protested. "I've been practicing. I can do a mean rabbit-from-a-hat routine." Molly rolled her eyes. "And I'm supposed to be the face painter? I can barely draw a straight line." "Which is why it's perfect," Bill said. "No one will suspect us. Kids are chaotic. We'll blend right in." "What's our exit strategy?" Molly asked, her professional thief instincts kicking in. Bill pulled out another diagram. "Bounce house on the right side of the yard. Perfect distraction and escape route. When the inevitable kid-pileup happens, we grab the gifts and vanish." Molly drummed her fingers on the table. "How many presents are we talking?" "Estimated street value? About eight grand. Rich tech executive parents. Probably the latest gaming systems, collector's action figures, maybe some vintage LEGO sets." "Eight grand from a six-year-old's birthday," Molly muttered. "We've officially hit a new low in our criminal career." Bill grinned. "You want in or not?" She considered for a moment, then a mischievous smile spread across her face. "Rent me a clown wig and some face paint. I'm in." "Excellent," Bill said, sliding a detailed costume diagram across the table. "Operation Birthday Heist begins this Saturday at 2 PM sharp." Molly just shook her head. "I cannot believe this is how we're spending our weekend." "You want excitement?" Bill winked. "This is as exciting as it gets." The kitchen fell silent, save for the soft rustle of party planning documents and the distant sound of Bill practicing his magical "ta-da" gesture.