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.