Run: 2026-09-23-01M37HRQPA6Z5P16DYTQ4MD1AJ

Molly spread the floor plan across the café table, pinning one corner with a sugar bowl and another with Bill’s elbow. Outside, rain tapped the window. Inside, Bill studied the drawing upside down. “The presents will be stacked beside the cake table,” Molly said. “We go in, collect them, and leave before anyone notices.” Bill turned the paper around. Molly had drawn balloons, a pirate ship, and a large red X. The building itself appeared to have been an afterthought, squeezed into the remaining corner. “Is the X where the presents are?” he asked. “Or where you expect me to fall over?” “The presents. I’ve marked the cake separately. That’s the circle with the candles. Try to keep your priorities straight.” Bill looked offended. His priorities were perfectly straight: steal the presents, avoid arrest, eat cake. He had even written them on his hand that morning, though the rain had reduced “arrest” to “rest.” “What’s our cover?” he asked. “I can’t pass for somebody’s uncle. I’ve got a face parents warn children about.” “You’re the magician. I’m your assistant. We borrow the costumes, perform a trick, then make the presents disappear.” Molly produced a black cape from her bag. Its hem was dotted with silver stars; a label inside read PROPERTY OF THE LITTLE ACORNS PLAYGROUP. Bill held it up against his chest. It reached his knees. “I’m not wearing a stolen magician’s cape to steal birthday presents,” he said. “That’s too much crime in one outfit.” “You’re right. We’ll return the cape when we leave. Happy? Now, can you pull a rabbit out of a hat?” An hour later, Bill stood in the community hall beneath a banner reading HAPPY SEVENTH BIRTHDAY, PIP. He had no hat and no rabbit. Molly, wearing sequins, was carrying both, plus a surprising amount of confidence. “Ladies and gentlemen,” Bill announced to the children, “prepare to witness an act of astonishing magic. Please keep your eyes on my assistant.” “That’s not how the trick goes,” Molly whispered. “They’re supposed to look at you while I take the presents.” A girl in a paper crown stepped forward. Bill recognized her from the photograph Molly had shown him: Pip, the birthday girl. She looked from his cape to the rabbit in Molly’s arms, then held out her hands. “Are you going to give me the rabbit?” Pip asked. “Mum said the magician might have one.” “No,” Bill said. “The rabbit is working. Would you like to help me with a different trick?” Pip nodded and climbed onto the little stage. Molly edged toward the gift table, where twenty brightly wrapped boxes waited. She lifted the smallest one. A chorus of children shouted, “That’s mine!” She put it down again. “They’re all yours,” Pip explained. “It’s a swapping party. Everyone brought an old toy, and everyone gets to pick one.” Bill looked at Molly. Molly looked at the boxes. Pip picked up the smallest and handed it to Bill. Inside was a plastic wand with one bent tip. “Good,” Pip said. “Now you can do magic properly.”