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.