Molly crouched behind a row of bushes, her eyes scanning the brightly decorated yard full of giggling children and bouncing balloons. She turned to Bill, who was fiddling with a tiny, suspicious-looking gadget. "Okay, Bill. What's the plan again? I thought we were slipping in through the side gate." Bill grinned, eyeing the gadget. "We are. But watch this — I rigged it up to make a distraction." She raised a skeptical brow. "A distraction? Please tell me it involves a clown nose and a loud kazoo." He chuckled. "Close. It’s a fake cannon that makes a loud bang. See?" He pressed a button, and a small puff of smoke erupted from the device, accompanied by a tiny popping sound. Molly's eyes widened. "You’ve been daydreaming about fireworks again, haven’t you? This isn’t a weekend carnival, Bill." He held up his hands. "Relax. I’ve tested it. It’ll scare the kids just long enough for us to slip in unnoticed." She shook her head, smirking. "You and your over-the-top plans. Anyway, how do we get past the parents guarding the cake table?" Bill pointed towards a side entrance, hidden behind a decorative hedge. "That’s our way in. Quiet as mice. But we need a distraction at the front gate." Molly looked around. "A distraction? Like throwing a pie at the face painter?" He paused. "Hmm, that’s actually not a bad idea. But I was thinking more along the lines of... a fake fight between us. You scream, I pretend to be a hero stepping in." She gave him a sidelong glance. "Right, and I’ll pretend to be terrified, and the parents will come running. In the chaos, we sneak in." Bill nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly. Plus, I’ve stacked crates behind the fence to hide our getaway cart. We’ll grab the presents and cha-cha out of there." A child squealed nearby, chasing after a inflatable unicorn. Molly leaned in. "And what about the kids? We’re not gonna knock over the cake or accidentally set off the piñata, are we?" Bill grinned mischievously. "No promises. But I’ve got a plan for the piñata. Think of it as a surprise bonus." She rolled her eyes. "You and surprises. Fine. So, you start the fake fight. I’ll get ready to bolt and grab the loot." Bill adjusted his ridiculous striped cap. "You’re the best, Molly. This is gonna be legendary." She reached into her pocket, pulling out a tiny, glittery horn. "And if anyone asks, we’re just two unruly party guests jazzing things up." He snorted. "Got it. And remember—no talking, just action. We’re in and out before anyone notices." Molly took a deep breath, tightening her grip on her makeshift weapon—a goofy banana-shaped toy. "Alright, Bill. Let’s make this a party to remember, but not for the reasons they think." He winked. "Here we go, partner." With a nod, she stepped out from behind the bushes, taking a deep breath. The yard was filled with the scent of cotton candy and the sound of children squealing with delight. She signaled to Bill, who was already setting his plan into motion. The fake cannon made a loud bang, startling the kids as Bill shouted, "Hey! Who threw that? That was supposed to be a surprise!" Molly used the chaos to dash toward the side entrance, hands ready to snatch the first gift she saw. She grinned to herself. Nothing beat a well-timed heist—especially when it was wrapped in bubbles, giggles, and maybe a little bit of clowning around.