Molly crouched behind the bushes, eyeing the brightly decorated backyard where the children's party was in full swing. Balloons bobbed in the breeze, and children laughed and squealed while their parents mingled nearby. She turned to Bill, who was eyeing the fence with a mischievous grin. "Alright, Bill," Molly whispered, glancing at her watch. "The coast is clear. We’ve got, what, fifteen minutes tops before the parents start realizing their kids are missing a pile of new toys?" Bill nodded, adjusting his baseball cap. "Yeah, and if we’re quick, we can slip in, grab everything, and be out before anyone notices. It’s like stealing candy from a... well, from a giant candy store." Molly rolled her eyes. "More like stealing really expensive, cartoon-themed, battery-operated chaos-makers from an army of tiny warriors. You ready to get your hands dirty?" Bill grinned. "Always. So, what’s the plan? We leap over the fence, grab the loot, and sprint back to the getaway car. Simple, right?" "Rubber gloves, Bill. Remember, no fingerprints," Molly cautioned. She pulled out a small bag from her coat pocket. "Got the heist kit here — flashlights, gloves, a little crowbar, and a feather duster in case we need to quiet things down." Bill chuckled. "A feather duster? Are we redecorating or robbing a mansion?" "Hey, don’t judge," Molly said with a smirk. "It’s a multi-purpose tool. Plus, I figured if anyone notices us, we can pretend we’re just cleaning the scene." He gestured toward the house. "So, how do we get past Mrs. Wigglebottom? The party’s hosted at her place, and she’s got a nose like a bloodhound." Molly pointed. "Simple. I’ll distract her with this." She pulled out a squeaky rubber chicken. "You slip in when her back’s turned. I’ll give her a good squawk show." Bill raised an eyebrow. "That’s your plan? Squeaky chicken?" "Works every time. Trust me." Molly winked. "While she’s busy defending her honor against the squeaks, you tiptoe inside and head for the gift table." Bill looked skeptical. "And what if she notices you making all that noise? I don’t fancy a karate lesson from an angry party host." "That’s where your charm comes in," Molly said, nudging him. "Use your best ‘Sorry, I thought this was a costume party’ smile." He groaned. "Do I have to wear the costume too?" "Only if you want to avoid suspicion. Otherwise, just act natural. I’ll cause the distraction." Bill sighed dramatically. "Fine. But if I get attacked by a garden gnome, I’m blaming you." Molly giggled. She took a deep breath, then stepped out from her cover. She raised the squeaky chicken high and squeaked loudly. The crowd’s attention turned immediately. Mrs. Wigglebottom turned toward the noise, eyes narrowing. Perfect. Bill tiptoed toward the back door, slipping inside through an unlocked sliding door. Inside, the house was a whirlwind of colorful streamers and balloon animals. He crept towards the table laden with presents, trying not to trip over a pile of giggling kids. Meanwhile, Molly approached Mrs. Wigglebottom, who was now stomping toward her with a look like she’d just been cheated at bingo. Molly held up her hands innocently. "Sorry, ma’am, just practicing my clown act! The kids asked for a special performance." Mrs. Wigglebottom crossed her arms. "If I catch any funny business, I’ll call the police myself." Molly nodded quickly. "Absolutely, ma’am. No funny business here." Back inside, Bill grabbed a pillowcase from the sofa and started stuffing it with toys. As he worked, he heard a loud crash from the other side of the house. He froze, listening. Then he heard Molly’s voice, loud and cheerful. "Oops! Clumsy me!" He smirked. "She’s got her distraction covered. Now, let’s see if I can find that big red gift bag." Suddenly, a tiny voice piped up from behind him. "Hey! Are you stealing my presents?" Bill spun around to see a small boy in a superhero costume glaring up at him. He held up his hands. "Whoa, kid. Just borrowing these for a bit. Feel free to join in!" The boy pounded his tiny fist on the table. "My superhero! You better bring it back, or I’ll tell my mom!" Bill chuckled nervously. "Don’t worry, I’ll return them... with a little extra magic." Meanwhile, Molly had successfully led Mrs. Wigglebottom away from the gift table by convincing her she’d found a rare, dancing parrot in the bushes. Inside the house, Bill calmly slipped a handful of presents into the pillowcase. With the loot secured, he signaled Molly through an open door. Molly nodded, and they both knew the plan was working. One quick dash out the back, and they’d be on their way. Outside, the party raged on, oblivious to the approaching uninvited guests. Molly and Bill exchanged a silent look, then dove over the fence in sync, clutching their treasure. They hit the grass running, disappearing into the night as the sound of children’s laughter faded behind them. No one was the wiser—until the next morning when the headlines declared, “Mystery Thieves Steal Entire Toy Collection—Children’s Party Left with Nothing but Balloons and Broken Gnomes.”