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.