Run: 2026-09-23-01M37J2X8EE3AKYC0C14BM2PXD

Molly spread a crayon drawing across the café table. It showed a castle, six stick children, and a dragon with suspiciously accurate fire-exit signage. “The party starts at two,” she said. Bill studied the drawing. “Why am I a dragon?” “Because you already own the costume.” “That was for court.” Molly tapped a purple rectangle. The presents would be stacked beside the bouncy castle, watched over by twelve parents and a woman who had once caught Molly pocketing a hotel teaspoon. Their operation demanded precision. At two fifteen, Bill would announce a dragon emergency. While everyone fled toward the designated dragon assembly point, Molly would wheel the gifts away in a laundry cart. Bill pointed at a stick figure holding balloons. “Who’s that?” “The birthday girl. She drew the map.” “She knows we’re stealing her presents?” “She thinks we’re taking them to her house.” Bill sat back. “Are we?” Molly stared at him. He stared at the map. Between them lay the uncomfortable possibility that their plan relied on a seven-year-old being better at logistics than they were. At two fifteen, Bill breathed harmless bubbles over the bouncy castle. Molly loaded the cart. Then the birthday girl arrived with a clipboard and assigned Bill a second trip.