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.