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.