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.