Run: 2026-07-25-01KYCRDZ3D44204GBSTTB6YM93

"Bouncy castle's the weak point," Molly said. "The bouncy castle." "Structurally, Bill. Nobody watches the perimeter when there's a bouncy castle." "I'm forty-six years old." "So?" "So I'll be visible, Molly. I'll be a forty-six-year-old man visible inside a bouncy castle." "You'll be a clown." "I'll be a what?" "Party has a clown. Party no longer has a clown, on account of I rang his mum and said there was a family emergency." "You rang his *mum*?" "He's nineteen and he lives at home, Bill, don't make it weird. Now. Presents go on the trestle table by the patio doors at half two, cake at three, and every single adult in that garden will be filming the candles." "And I'm doing balloons." "You're doing balloons, then you're doing a slow walk to the table with the big striped bag—" "The bag is for balloons." "The bag is for a PlayStation, four scooters and however many envelopes of birthday money Nana's handed over. Say the line." "Which line?" "The one for when a child asks what's in the bag." Bill sighed. "More balloons." "More balloons," Molly said, beaming. "You're a natural."