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.