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.