Run: 2026-02-17-01KHNFXM5R2RXRKC8E4A2EPY0N

The rain hammered the pavement outside, but inside the community hall the air crackled with the buzz of children and the sweet scent of birthday cake. A banner reading “Happy Birthday, Leo!” fluttered above a table laden with balloons, and a bouncy castle sagged in the corner like a tired elephant. In a cramped supply closet that smelled of dust and old popcorn, Molly and Bill hunched over a cardboard box that served as a desk, a map of the party scrawled on the back of a pizza flyer. Molly tapped the sketch. “We have twenty minutes before the cake. The presents are behind the DJ booth. We grab them when the lights go out.” Bill frowned, his eyebrows climbing like caterpillars. “Rob a kid's party? That's low. Parents will call the cops, and I'll end up in a clown suit.” Molly smirked. “Exactly. You take the clown outfit, distract the kids with a bad joke, and I'll slip behind the booth.” Bill sighed. “Fine. If I have to juggle, I’m blaming you.” Molly nodded. “Deal. When the candles blow, we move. Five seconds, then we’re gone.” Bill took a breath. “Got it. Let’s do this before I lose my nerve.” They slipped out of the closet, the door squeaking behind them. The hall thrummed with laughter, balloons popped, and a DJ spun a pop song that made the floor tremble. Molly slipped a bright wig over her hair and grabbed a stack of gift bags, while Bill squeezed into an oversized clown suit that smelled of cheap paint. “Hey, little heroes! Who wants a magic trick?” the clown shouted, waving a rubber chicken. Bill forced a laugh. “Uh, sure. Watch this!” The children giggled as Bill fumbled with three colored balls, missing each one spectacularly. Parents clapped politely, and the music swelled, covering the rustle of wrapping paper. In the chaos, Molly slipped behind the DJ booth, her gloved hands finding the pile of presents. She lifted a rectangular box wrapped in blue, slid it into her bag, and moved to the next. Molly whispered, “Every last one. Let’s go.” Bill glanced around, his face red beneath the clown paint. “We actually pulled it off.” Molly laughed, the sound bright against the hum of the engine. “Told you. The best heist is the one nobody sees.” They sprinted to the side door, hopped into the waiting van, and sped away, the streetlights blurring past. The rain had stopped, and a faint rainbow stretched over the city. Bill stared at the backseat, piled high with brightly wrapped boxes. “What if a kid spots us?” Molly shrugged. “We’ll claim we’re the surprise entertainment.” Bill nodded. “Alright, I’m in.” Molly grinned. “Parents love surprise acts.” Bill took a final look at the hall. “Here goes nothing.” Molly gave a quick thumbs‑up. “Five seconds. Go!” The van disappeared into the night, leaving only the echo of a child's laughter and the faint smell of cake.