Run: 2026-07-25-01KYD4Q6PWN1A0HHAF7EKMRAY2

The abandoned bouncy castle rental shop smelled faintly of old pizza and rubber. Molly pressed her binoculars against the chain link fence behind the community center, watching a clown twist balloons. Bill spread a crudely drawn map on top of a cooler. The map was mostly crayon. "Okay, target is inside. Seven-year-olds, one piñata, and at least twenty presents," Molly said. "Twenty presents? That's a better haul than the bank job," Bill said. "Focus. The moms have formed a perimeter around the juice boxes. That's perimeter one." Bill squinted at the window. A banner read HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIMMY in glitter that was already falling off. "So what's the plan? We go in through the front door with clown disguises?" "No. Clowns are expected to entertain. Do you know how to make a poodle out of a balloon?" "I know how to pop one. Does that count?" Molly sighed and tapped the map. In the center she had drawn a large pile of presents with dollar signs on them. "We go in through the side during cake time. That's when security is lowest. Everyone stares at the candles." "That's genius. My mom always cried during cake time. Very distracting," Bill said. "Right. So you will be in charge of crowd control. You keep the kids busy." "How?" "You juggle." "I can't juggle, Molly." "You juggled chainsaws last month." "Those were plastic toy chainsaws. I still dropped them." Molly lowered the binoculars and looked at him seriously. The bouncy castle behind them wheezed as it slowly deflated. "Bill, this is the score that gets us into early retirement. No more gas station ATMs. No more stealing garden gnomes." "But garden gnomes don't have parents who will chase you," Bill said. "Exactly. Lower risk, higher reward. Think of it. Unwrapped LEGO sets. Video games still in shrink wrap." Bill nodded slowly, getting inspired. "Okay, I'm in. So you grab the presents while I do my world famous juggling routine?" "Yes. Then we exfiltrate using the wagon in the parking lot." "The little red wagon?" "It's inconspicuous. Nobody suspects a little red wagon full of stolen birthday loot." Bill stared at the wagon. It had one squeaky wheel and a sticker that said HONK IF YOU LOVE MUFFINS. "What if Timmy sees us?" Bill asked. "We tell him we are the official birthday present inspectors. Very important job. Government mandated." "Do seven-year-olds understand government mandate?" "Timmy will. He looks like a smart kid." Through the fence they could hear the children singing happy birthday, off-key and extremely loud. The clown was now stuck inside a balloon. "That could be us," Molly whispered. "Stuck in a balloon?" Bill said. "No. Rich." She folded the map and shoved it into her pocket. "Remember, thirty seconds in, thirty seconds out. Nobody gets hurt and everyone gets cake," she said. "You think they'll share the cake even if we take the presents?" Bill asked. "Bill, this is a heist with morals. We take the presents, we leave the cake." "You're a good person, Molly."