Run: 2026-03-09-01KK9QCPBDHB8WH7YWAB9VN56P

Molly crouched behind the inflatable castle, notebook open, goggles fogged by strawberry-scented machine smoke. The garden beyond twinkled with paper lanterns, melted icing, and the doomed confidence of adults who thought a hired magician could control twelve sugar-loaded children. Bill lay beside her in the petunias, dressed in burglar black except for a glittery party hat he had borrowed from the gift table and called tactical disguise. On the patio, a mountain of presents towered beside the cake like a brightly wrapped vault protected by juice boxes and one suspicious golden retriever. She reviewed the operation with military solemnity. Enter during the rabbit trick. Cross behind the piñata. Distract the dog with cocktail sausages. Load everything into the red wagon parked near the hedge. Exit through the side gate before any parent remembered how to count. “Bill, plan only: gifts, gate, wagon, gone before cake appears.” “Molly, if balloons attack, I’m surrendering and taking the clown.” Inside, children shrieked, a whistle blew, and something sticky hit a window. Molly smiled. At last, chaos was providing professional cover. Nearby, a toddler in a pirate cape marched past the hedge, saluted the darkness, and announced mutiny to a baffled lawn flamingo twice.