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.