Run: 2026-10-09-01M4FYZSPCGDQY2AG5WB1VKJWZ

Molly tapped the blueprint with a chewed pencil. "The party's in the Henderson's rec room, second floor. Forty-two kids, one bouncy castle, and roughly three hundred presents stacked by the piano." Bill squinted at the drawing. "Why is there a bouncy castle on the second floor?" "Because it's a rich family, Bill. They can do whatever they want." She slid a rolled-up set of party invitations across the table. "Here. Your disguise." He unrolled it and groaned. "I'm a clown?" "You're a clown. I'm the aunt who forgot to RSVP. Nobody questions a clown with a balloon animal." "What if they ask me to make a giraffe?" "Then you make a giraffe and we're in." She paused. "Can you make a giraffe?" "I can make a dog. Sort of a lumpy dog." "Perfect. Kids love lumpy dogs." The plan was simple enough. Molly would slip in through the kitchen during the cake cutting, when every parent was too busy taking photos to notice anyone. Bill would keep the children distracted with magic tricks. Bill had one magic trick. It involved a coin that he was fairly sure he had once swallowed. "Okay, the getaway," Bill said. "Are we using the van?" "We are not using the van. The van has your name on the parking permit." "That was one time." "It was a fire hydrant, Bill, and it was a very important fire hydrant to a very angry man." He sighed. "So what's the car?" Molly grinned and pointed out the window. A small pink hatchback sat at the curb, with a bow tied to the antenna. "Borrowed from the birthday girl's grandmother. She thinks we're delivering a surprise pony." "Molly, that's a tiny car." "Tiny cars are hard to chase." Bill stared at the hatchback for a long moment. "Fine. But if I get stuck in the sunroof again, you're pulling me out." "Deal." She rolled up the blueprint and tucked it into her coat. "Now go practice your lumpy dog. We leave at two." Bill grabbed a handful of balloons and started squeaking one into shape. It popped immediately. "Still working on it," he said.