Run: 2026-02-20-01KHXQ1JXQ51X3BWRD9CSSK8Y4

The rainbow balloons bobbed cheerfully against the ceiling of the community center, taunting Molly from their perch outside the window. She adjusted her oversized clown wig and glared at Bill, who was currently wrestling with a pair of glitter-covered overalls. "You look like a disgruntled lollipop," she said. Bill yanked the straps up. "And you look like a mime who just found out miming isn’t a real job. Now, focus. We’ve got twenty minutes before the piñata gets whacked and half the parents start filming their kids’ ‘adorable’ meltdowns." Molly checked her watch. "Right. You take the gift table, I’ll hit the goodie bags. And remember—" "—no eye contact with the magician. Yeah, yeah. That guy’s got *vibes*." Bill cracked his knuckles. "What’s our exit strategy if some kid recognizes us from the *last* party we hit?" Molly grinned. "We blame the face paint. ‘Oh no, little Timmy, we’re *new* clowns! The *old* ones were definitely not felons.’" Bill sighed. "You’re enjoying this too much." A distant voice boomed over a microphone: *"And now, let’s all sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to little Emily!"* Molly grabbed Bill’s arm. "Showtime, partner. Try not to cry when they sing. It ruins the menace."