Run: 2026-10-27-01M5YH4XKK50YRG8JJTGFJAPSQ

Molly spread the plan across the steering wheel. It was drawn on a paper plate. Bill peered through his clown wig. "Why am I a sausage?" "That's the van." "Why does the van have legs?" "That's you." "Oh." He scratched his painted nose. "I look surprised." "You are surprised. I discussed this twice." "I was checking the cake for listening devices." "You ate the cake." "Exactly. Nothing ever gets past me." Molly tapped the plate. "The party starts at two. We go in as magicians, keep everyone entertained, and leave with the presents." "All the presents?" "All the presents." "Even the big one with the bow?" "Especially the big one with the bow." "It looks heavy." "That's why I brought you." "I thought you brought me because I own a wig." "You found that wig in a skip." "A very good skip." Bill studied the plan again. "What's this bit labelled 'certain death'?" "The bouncy castle." "And this bit labelled 'worse than death'?" "Grandma." "Is she dangerous?" "She makes small talk." Bill shuddered. "Perhaps we could just tunnel in." "No tunnelling." "Disguise myself as a present?" "No." "A large present?" "Bill." "A modest present with realistic breathing holes?" Molly folded the plate in half. "We walk through the front door. You smile. I do tricks. You don't eat anything. Then we take the presents to the van." "That's your whole brilliant plan?" "Yes." "It lacks elegance." "You have a plastic flower that squirts water into your own ear." "It lacks elegance on my part, too, but I expected more from you." "What's my first trick?" "Making yourself scarce." "And my second?" "Making the presents scarce." "What about the children?" "Leave them where they are." "That hardly seems like a trick." "It's my specialty." "Can I saw the cake in half?" "No." "Can I eat the evidence?" "Only if it stops you talking." A fist knocked on the window. Outside stood a girl in a pirate hat. "Are you the magicians?" she asked. "Yes," said Molly. "No," said Bill. The girl narrowed her eyes. "Why is he dressed as a clown?" "He's my assistant," Molly said. "Why is he holding a sack?" "For assisting," said Bill. "What's in the sack?" "Other sacks." The girl considered this. "Toby's got handcuffs." Bill lowered his voice. "Toy ones?" The girl leaned closer. "He's six. Where would he get real ones?" Bill nodded wisely. "A toy shop." Behind her, someone released a dozen balloons. The bouncy castle shuddered as though waking up. Molly opened her door. "Remember: smile, magic, presents, van." "And if Grandma talks to me?" "Abandon the mission." "What about the presents?" "Abandon me." Bill climbed out, tripped over his oversized shoes, and bowed to the pirate girl. She pointed at his wig. "That looks like a dead ferret." Bill straightened. "Good. Then nobody will suspect it's alive." Molly closed her eyes. "Two minutes," she muttered. "We haven't even started, and I need a new plan." "Make it a bigger plate," Bill called.