Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY8QMWCCM46M1Z30X70FDQN

The backyard smelled of vanilla and tears—Lila from the next door had smacked her head on a balloon and was now sobbing into her Kool-Aid. Above it, a unicorn piñata sagged, its horn lopsided, a tail tied with a neon ribbon. Molly crouched behind a bush, her utility belt askew, staring at the presents: a tiny bike with training wheels, a box of sparkly stickers, a teddy bear wearing a party hat. “Bill,” she hissed, “the presents are *under* the oak. But the sheet cake’s on the table. One misstep, and Little Lucas’ll spot our boots.” Bill, munching a cupcake, wiped frosting from his chin. “Chill. He’s too busy trying to eat the piñata’s ear. (Nods at a balloon he’d filled with confetti.) Distraction. Pop this, and chaos. Presents’ll be *begging* to be… uh… rearranged.” Molly blinked. “Chaos? What if the piñata breaks? The parents’ll *see* us.” “Parents? They’re too busy taking selfies with the dinosaur piñata.” Bill held up a crumb-caked cupcake. “Practice. (Laughs.) We’ll fit the stickers in the bike’s basket. Teddy bear goes in the cake box.” A small voice piped up: “Sir? Are you hiding candy?” Bill froze, then forced a grin. “Uh… yes, buddy! But shhh—we’re *helping*. (Pauses, brightening.) You got a lollipop? We’ll trade it for a… a magic sticker, yeah?” The kid thought. “Okay.” He ran off, lollipop in hand. Molly stared at Bill. “You just bribed a 6-year-old with a lie.” Bill winked. “Now we have a distraction. And a lookout.” Molly sighed, but she was smiling. “If we get caught, I’m blaming the lollipop.” Bill clapped her shoulder. “Deal. Now—let’s take the sparkly one.”