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.