Run: 2026-02-16-01KHK9FP9VTQMZ894VTHCNPTH1

Night hissed softly as Molly and Bill clung to the lip of the alley, trading glances that were equal parts thrill and trouble. The birthday party downstairs hummed with squealing laughter and helium; somewhere a DJ played a cheerful tune that would haunt their dreams later. The plan was ridiculous and urgent, a recipe for trouble wrapped in a bow. Molly: Okay, Bill, give me the rundown. Are we talking glitter bombs or cake-based diversions tonight? Bill: Patience, partner. We slip in during the lull when the party is singing “Happy Birthday” and the adults forget to watch the doors. Molly: The lull always lasts exactly as long as the parents remember not to mix punch with wine. Then chaos. Bill: Exactly. First, we map out the room—tables, bounce castles, a suspiciously quiet corner where the gifts hide. Molly: Maps are for treasure, Bill. Our map is a route of snack crumbs and balloons. Bill: Snack crumbs are a trap. They lure security into a blissful nap, dreaming of cookies. Molly: Right. Then the grand entrance: we pretend to be a party entertainment duo—banjo-playing pirates with a juggling act. Bill: Pirates? The kids will adore that. The parents will adore the delay while we slip past the gift stash. Molly: Slip past the gift stash? There is no “gift stash”; there are gift stacks, fortunes of wrapped potential under the table. Bill: Fortunes wrapped in cellophane. We just need a decoy—the cake erupts with confetti and distracts the crowd. Molly: Confetti cannons are loud. We can’t trust the cones to explode at the right moment. Bill: Then we borrow a few gifts with a polite “may we borrow your gifts” and return them after the cake. Molly: Borrowing is stealing; let’s call it “unwrapping into our pockets” and then returning with a flourish. Bill: Flourish is key. We twirl, we bow, we vanish behind the punch bowl. Molly: We vanish behind the punch bowl and vow to never speak of the frosting caper again. Bill: Which begs the question: what do we do with the rest of the presents once we have a few decoys and a handful of teddy bears? Molly: We re-wrap them; it’s a philanthropic misdirection. The real swag lands in the neighbor’s yard. Bill: Philanthropy as cover. I like it. Also, do we have a get-away vehicle lined up or do we bike over on unicycles? Molly: Unicycles are dramatic but risky. Let’s stick to a borrowed minivan and a chorus of kids calling “go, go!” to cheer us on. Bill: The kids will shout? Great. They will create a cover of noise we can slip through. Molly: Okay, plan in motion. Then we act. Then— Bill: Then we pretend to be part of the cleanup crew and vanish into the night, leaving the tangy scent of frosting and adventure behind. Molly: You know I love a good scent metaphor. Bill: I know you do. Now stay sharp, keep it silly, and whatever you do, don’t trip over the cake table. Molly: I make no promises, but I’ll try not to sneeze during the grand finale. Bill: Bless you in advance, partner. The neon balloons are watching.