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.