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.