Run: 2026-11-11-01M755PK6GA07Y9XZMRR3YA8GX

Molly spread the party invitation across the kitchen table as Bill sharpened a candy cane into something resembling a lockpick. "There are forty-seven presents upstairs inside that cardboard castle guarded by three very big balloons." Bill nodded solemnly, because in his experience balloons had ended more heists than police ever. Molly tapped the invitation with impatience while Bill chewed communion wafers, testing them as fake mustaches for later disguises today. "They taste like cardboard, Molly, which means this plan is already very truly method acting." Molly rolled her eyes and pointed at the guest list, naming Wayne the cake guard. Bill studied the invitation again, counting favor bags and wondering which toys brought the best resale value. "We enter through the laundry room, grab the castle, and roll it toward the van." It sounded simple, which in Molly's experience meant someone would eventually vomit on the plan, probably literally once. Bill produced a child's treasure map, stolen from a cereal box, and laid it proudly beside the invitation. "X marks the presents, Molly, and Wayne's cake is the final boss protecting that X." Molly considered the map, the castle, and Wayne, then decided the cake boss was negotiable after all. Dwight the retired policeman patrolled his yard nightly with a garden gnome, a thermos, and endless suspicion. "We distract Dwight with the gnome and send Bill through the laundry window disguised quickly." Bill pictured himself as a lost parent, then remembered crying when the birthday clown suddenly vanished during magic. Molly produced two helium balloons, a length of string, and a laminated photo of Bill wearing a smaller hat. "This hat made me look trustworthy, so the laundry window will never suspect me today." Molly tied the balloons to Bill, who floated upward and knocked over a lamp beside him. They practiced the heist in the living room, stepping over stuffed animals and whispering instructions about juice boxes and napkins. "Grab the big presents first, Bill, because they contain bikes, drones, and possibly a goat." Bill wrote goat on the list, then underlined it twice because goats resold well downtown. The party started at noon, with cake, musical chairs, and a bouncy castle squeaking like a dying accordion. "We pose as entertainers, Molly, doing balloon animals while filling our van with wrapped treasure." Molly practiced a balloon dog, produced a poodle instead, and decided poodles looked expensive to distract parents. Bill's balloon giraffe collapsed, covered the fence with rubber, and convinced Dwight to join their rehearsal. "Dwight makes a lookout, Molly, since he already suspects every single child at that party." Molly handed Dwight a juice box, a whistle, and a cardboard badge, promoting him to chief present protection officer. At midnight they tested the laundry window, discovered it was painted shut, and switched to the cat flap. "We squeeze through the cat flap, Bill, and presents are ours before breakfast, I promise." Bill nodded, adjusted his tiny hat, and declared the cardboard castle of presents doomed for tomorrow morning.