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.