Molly stared at the crayon-drawn map of the Johnson’s backyard, the words “PINATA STAGING AREA” circled in a wobbly red line. She pinched the bridge of her nose, a familiar headache forming behind her eyes. “Okay, let’s run it one more time. The diversion is key. Bill, are you listening?” “Totally,” Bill said, not looking up from the bright red clown nose he was trying to affix to his balaclava. “But I feel like this sends the wrong message. We’re thieves, not children’s entertainers.” “That’s the point, you genius! Misdirection. While you’re ‘entertaining’ the kids with your… whatever that is, I’ll be slipping around the side of the house to the present table.” “What about the bouncy castle?” Bill asked, his voice muffled by the latex. “The pirate ship one. A quick bounce is crucial for morale. High morale leads to a cleaner getaway.” “There will be no bouncing!” Molly hissed, snatching the map. “The goal is presents. Not cake, not bouncy castles, not the sad-looking magician. Presents.” “But what if one of the presents is for us? Like, karmically? A new set of lockpicks, maybe?” “Bill, we are stealing a seven-year-old’s LEGO spaceship and a Make-Your-Own-Slime kit. I doubt the universe has hidden a set of professional-grade tools in a box marked ‘To Timmy.’” “I don’t know,” Bill mused, holding up a grappling hook. “Seems like overkill for a Barbie Dreamhouse. Can’t we just use the doggy door? I saw a golden retriever. He seemed friendly.” “We are not befriending the canine security system. We go in hard, we go in fast. I create a smoke screen by the grill, you grab the sacks, and we rendezvous at the van in ninety seconds. Ninety. Seconds.” “Right, right, the sacks.” He held up two brightly colored gift bags with cartoon unicorns on them. “I figured these would be less conspicuous than burlap.” Molly just stared, her mouth agape. “Where did you even get those?” “Party City. They were having a sale. But, Molly, I have one more question.” “What?” “Are we taking the party favor bags, too? Because I saw they have little whistles in them.”