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.