Luck Exchangers, Michelle Ruiz [books to read for 12 year olds .txt] 📗

Author's Note

People wish for newfound luck. They want bad things to stop happening to them. Why does this happen, they ask. But there is a way to get lots of good luck, and it's not just believing in yourself. The Luck Exchangers come into play. They are spirits with power that can make bad luck go away. In order to do it, They have to get all the bad luck that willhappen to the clients in the future, even if it begins in a few minutes.

They have strange  ways of retrieving all that bad luck. How, you ask? Many ways. Paralyzation, hugging, etc. The Luck Exchangers began around 200 years ago and only 11 exist. Their power made them realize their destiny, and they chose the path to help those in need. However, there is a limit on time. If the clients are grateful for what the Exchangers did, their luck won't ever go away. If the actions are just a fraud, the bad luck returns. The clients have to mean it from their hearts, otherwise, the visit would be meaningless. I  hope you enjoy these stories. (And hopefully they make sense)

Story 1: Slyphia * Kress

Sylphia was on her way to meet her new client. She sensed him in the bushes. *Why the hell is he in the bush? No wait, he's trying to assault me....what an epic fail, especially with the shadow showing...* As he was to go out to jump her, she grabbed his hand and poked his stomach.

*EPIC FAIL,* She thought..   

The boy was very shocked. He struggled to move, but failed. "What the hell?"Hey, why can't I move?"

"Kress Harlem, 3rd year of Jownn High, known as Mister Misfortune." She looked at him for a little bit. "That is you, right?"

    "W-what the-? Just how did you know who I am?? And why can't I move??"

"Don't worry about it. You'll only be paralyzed momentarily. And you'll only be late by five minutes."

    "WHAAAT?! Don't you realize what you just did?!"

"I am quite aware. Do not worry." He struggled and struggled, but no no avail.The effect wore off after five minutes have passed and Kress ran off to class. As he came barging in his class he was begging on his knees for mercy. He apologized repeatedly to his teacher. "I'm so Sorry!! I won't be late anymore!!"

The teacher looked at him funny. "What are you talking about? You're right on time."

"I am?" That girl is crazy I guess. Five minutes after the bell rang, Sylphia came in the class with cuts, a black eye and bruises. Whaaa? Why is she here? Kress had no idea on what's going on. She doesn't come to school here!! That stuff happens to me normally....

"I am sorry for my truant behavior sir."

"I don't want any more excuses! You now have detention!"

This is too weird! She doesn't have class here, or even attend this school! Just what is going on?

Kress and Sylphia hung out more often and became friends . But Kress still kind of became suspicious of her on why she suddenly came. Weeks later, Kress started to realize something. Nothing but good things have been happening to him. He was considered a popular kid and made lots of friends that didn't hurt him. On the other hand, he also noticed that bad things are happening to Sylphia. She gets all these bruise marks,cuts, and black eyes.  just the same things that would normally happen to him. I can't take it! He thought.  Especially seeing a girl in pain. This isn't worth it!! I have to do something. Kress started to look for her. He finds her getting beat up by other girls.

"Please stop it!! Don't hurt her anymore!"

    "What are you doing over here Kress?! Go back and continue your good luck!! I was trained to endure this pain!"

"You know,We're friends now, and as a friend, I can't just sit here and let you get hurt!"

    "So you don't want to keep your good luck?"

"No! I don't want to keep my luck, even though I don't know what the hell is going on. Even if it's going to hurt you!"

Sylphia started to glow, and so did Kress. They both teleported and appeared in the forest. "Please tell me, what is going on? I want to know."

"All right. I can't keep secrets from my newfound friend. My name is Sylphia. I am a Luck Exchanger."

    "A...Luck Exchanger? Just what is that?"

"Yes, A Luck Exchanger. A spirit that takes away all your bad luck. But in order to do that, they have to temporarily obtain most of their client's bad luck. When I said you'll be five minutes late, I applied that luck upon myself. I paralyze my clients so that the good luck will apply to them."  

  "But why me? Why didn't you choose anyone else?"

"We do not get to choose. Fate decides for us. But I think I am glad to be serving you."

     "Will it be like this forever?"

"Well, it really depends. If the person is grateful for their good luck, it stays. However, if it gets abused too much, the luck disappears and the bad luck shall return."

    "I see..." Kress is starting to understand his situation.

"Kress Harlem...Why would you give your luck up? Why would you do something for a stranger like myself?"

"Just Kress please, it sounds too mature with my full name. Anyway, I wouldn't keep my luck and just abandon  them, it's just not in my nature.And besides, we're not strangers anymore remember?"

"I see...One more thing."

    "Yes?"

"Why did you attempt to jump me when we first met?"

    "...To be honest, I really don't know..." They both laughed for a while. Soon, the forest started to fade,and Sylphia is starting to disappear. Kress jumped back in shock. "What's going on Sylphia?"

"I forgot to mention, there's only a limited time an Exchanger can have before moving on to their next client."

    "Why didn't you mention it earlier??!"

"Slipped my mind. My apologies."

    "Will I see you again? There are still many questions I want to ask!"

"In all due time, Kress Har-, I mean, Kress."

    "Thanks for what you did for me."

Sylphia smiled and vanished. Kress saw himself sitting back in the front gate where they were. Kress looked at the sky and gave his thanks, and soon went home with his new found luck.

Story 2: Reed * Yuae

Yuae was a gifted child. She does whatever she can in order to meet everyone's expectations . But the one thing she cannot seem to get are real friends. Every day she would have stress on her and she took it out on other people    

As the day went by, Yuae was bitter as usual and started to walk to the park. "Honey!" Her mother called. "Don't forget your coat! It might rain out!" But she already left. Yuae grumpily walked around the park and started to scream at people who tried to talk to her. As other people saw what happened, they started to leave, leaving Yuae by herself. "Forget these people! I don't need them!!" She sat on the swing but saw no one offering to push her. She went on the slide, but nobody came to help her up when she fell. "Hmph. It's no fun at all! Why can't I have friends?"

"Maybe it's because you scare them?"Yuae looked around and saw a boy her age sitting on the bench. "How dare you! I am sure I don't scare anyone!"

"Then, where is everyone? If you let them talk to you without shouting, they won't be-"

"Quiet! I'm thinking of a way to get friends!"

The boy just started to laugh hard. "Man, you're a hardheaded girl!"   

"What was that?" Fire was starting in her eyes.

"You cut everyone off. Doesn't that give you a clue at all?"

Yuae looked around and saw that the park was empty. She turned her head away. "I don't need you telling me anything."

"The sky is kind of dark. Don't you have a coat or anything?"   

"Who are you, my mother?"

"No, But I can imitate mothers. 'Honey clean your room! Finish those vegetables!' Do your homework!' "    Yuae stared blankly. "Was that supposed to be funny?"

"That was kinda the point. What? You got servants to do all that?"   

"Yes." He stared at her strangely. "I'm just kidding!"  Droplets started to fall on her face. Yuae then started to scream. "NOOO! I'M GETTING WATER ON ME!!!!!!" It rained harder and harder. The boy started to run around in puddles. "The rain feels so good!!" He stopped to see her crying."What's wrong? You look down."   

"I can't be in the rain... My parents actually punish me if I do something this childish...I'm expected to be mature."

"Then take a breather Yuae Nuden! There's no one else around so might as well enjoy it."   She sighed. "You're right...wait! How'd you know my name?"

"You don't need to worry about that. Come on! Catch me if you can!" The boy pushed her into a puddle and ran. Yuae got up and chased after him. She started to like the rain and the stress flew away. They both laughed until a limousine came along. "YUAE!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT IN THE RAIN????" Yuae stopped and saw her mother shouting at her. "So much for fun....Looks like you'll get sick...It's nice meeting you. My name is Reed." Before Yuae had a chance to ask some questions, Reed hugged her. She stood there awkwardly while Reed ran away. The driver grabbed Yuae by the arm and drove back to the mansion.   

Yuae sat down in a towel at home. "Why were you out in the rain like that? Don't you know you'll get ill? And you'll miss your work..."   

"I...just wanted a break. Mother, don't you get it? All I have been doing is all work and no play."   

"Well, that is true, now that I think about it. Let's see..." Yuae was surprised to see her mother actually paying attention to her. All she would do is yell and lecture her and that would be the end of it. But now, it seemed like a dream that she doesn't she doesn't want to wake up from. Oh well, she thought. Might as well just enjoy it for today...I'm sure everything will go back to normal...   

But for a while, Yuae's mother had let her do things she wasn't able to do before. Later