they tell me:  "we are going  to  shrink 
 you." i  don't quite  like  the tone  in 
 their voices, like they are  restraining 
 themselves.  there is a  hunger  in them 
 and it wants  me  to  shrink.  and  what 
 really  irks  me  is  that  so   do   i. 
                                          
 they give  me  wristbands  and  anklets, 
 made  of   some  strange   stone.  their 
      surface is swirling, like dark      
   thunderstorms trapped in glass, like   
 windows into  a smaller world, close  to 
 my  body  so  that  it  can see  clearly 
             whats in store.              
                                          
 they give me  food: prawn-like bugs that 
 make my tongue curl  with  satisfaction. 
 "out of this world",  i think, having no 
 frame of reference. i eat only two,  but 
      the bugs leave me suspiciously      
                satisfied.                
                                          
 they  measure my clothes. "you are going 
 to become about half  as big", they tell 
  me, barely controlling themselves with  
               anticipation.