Exchange by Althea Thurston Summary Althea Thurston’s The Exchange is a short play that talks about human nature and how people always want to change their lives without thinking about the results. The story takes place in a magical place called "The Exchange," where people can trade their problems for new ones. A Judge and his assistant, an Imp, run the Exchange and help people exchange their miseries. First, a Poor Man approaches, lamenting his lifelong poverty. He requests enough money to enjoy life, eat well, and revel with friends. The Judge sternly reminds him that every exchange comes with a price—he must accept another misery in return. After rejecting several options like paralysis, a glass eye, and a cast-off wife, the man eagerly agrees to trade his poverty for indigestion, reasoning that it’s a small price for wealth and enjoyment. Imp gleefully ushers him to the changing room, relishing the situation. Next, a Vain Woman, obsessed with her fading beauty...