Run: 2026-09-10-01M25DVXW10AFWT5V9SKRBQTWX

Molly folded the party invitation across the van's dashboard. "Remind me," Molly said, "why we're robbing a six-year-old's birthday party instead of a bank." Bill adjusted his fake mustache. "Banks have guards, cameras, and consequences. Birthday parties have cake." "That's not a security system." "It is if you're allergic to fondant." Molly sighed. "We're stealing presents from children." "We're liberating them from wrapping paper," Bill said. "It's recycling." They watched the house. A bouncy castle wheezed in the backyard. A clown tied balloon swords for a mob of tiny pirates. Molly pointed at the gift table, piled high with boxes. "Okay," she said. "Entry?" "Front door. I'm the magician." "You're dressed as a pirate." "Pirate magician. Very trendy." "No. We need a distraction." "The clown is a distraction." "The clown is the enemy. He sees everything. Look at him. He's making a poodle." Bill leaned forward. "I can take him." "With what? A balloon sword?" "Honor." Molly rubbed her temples. "Fine. You cause a scene. I'll grab the presents. Which ones?" "All of them." "Bill, there are thirty gifts." "So? We have a van." "The van has one working door and a smell." "That smell is character." The clown began a magic trick. Children screamed with delight. Molly winced. "New plan," she said. "You pretend to be the father bringing in more presents. I'll be the aunt with a clipboard." "Why a clipboard?" "Clipboards make people trust you. It's science." Bill nodded. "What about the parents?" "Parents ignore adults at parties. They only watch the kids and the wine table." "And the clown?" "We bribe him." "With what?" "His dignity. We tell him the birthday girl requested a magic show in the front yard." Bill grinned. "That's evil." "It's tactical." They slipped out of the van. Bill carried an empty sack inside a stroller. Molly carried a clipboard with nothing on it. At the gate, a mother squinted at them. "Are you with the party?" she asked. "Entertainment," Molly said. "We're the surprise." The mother shrugged and stepped aside. In the backyard, the clown was already announcing his front-yard encore. Kids stampeded. Parents followed with paper plates of cake. Bill whispered, "Gift table." Molly whispered back, "Thirty seconds." A second mother appeared, holding a juice box. "Have you seen the magician?" Molly smiled and pointed toward the front yard. "He's with the rabbit. Very professional." They moved. Bill swept presents into the stroller. Molly checked the clipboard like it held launch codes. A toddler stared at them. "Hi," Molly said. "We're helping." The toddler pointed at Bill. "Pirate." Bill froze. "I'm a magician." The toddler screamed. "Go," Molly hissed. They bolted. Behind them, the clown returned, holding a rabbit. The rabbit looked relieved. Bill kicked the stroller through the gate, presents bouncing. Molly slammed the van door just as a balloon sword bounced off the windshield. Bill started the engine. "That went well." "We forgot the cake," Molly said. Bill reversed. "There's always next year. And a much better cake."