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.