Stories of Human Miniaturization: Part 1

Slice of Life Story that Follows several individuals who choose to be permanently shrunk

They looked at the screen on the tablet, watching as the old video started. It was of a young woman, with long and curly, platinum blond hair, her face taking up the screen, as she addressed her social media followers.
“Hi, it’s me Chloe. I wanted to share with all of you something. Most of you I’ve shared this with offline, the rest of you are family and friends I haven’t talked to about it yet. It was a major decision that I considered very thoroughly. And I’ve thought about this for a long time before even considering it.”
She paused, and then stated, “I am going to be shrunk.”
She paused again, before saying, “Everyone has heard by now about Human Miniaturization. Previously thought impossible, it now is possible with our late twenty first century modern technology. People volunteer to be shrunk down to a size between three and four inches tall. And they willingly choose to live their lives small. I am going to be doing so. I’m going to be permanently reduced in size to about three and a half inches, and live in one of the many communities solely for miniaturized people. Everything will be my size there, but it will be the idyllic lifestyle. Everything will be provided for me and the other Habitat dwellers, with no need to work. I’ll come out to visit select people of course, just close friends and family. I will continue to make posts to talk about my progress. I am very happy with this decision of mine, and can‘t wait to have it done. Thank you all for following me.”
The pair stared at the screen, as the video ended and the list of her posts came up. The boy held up the tablet, as his sister said over his shoulder, “That’s a five year old video. Let’s see what happens to her.” He looked for more recent video posts, and found a recent one, just a few months before. It had been the first in over a year. He brushed his finger over the screen and selected it.
The video began playing. The same women appeared on screen, slightly older but with the same white blond hair. “Hi, it’s Chloe. I know it’s been a long time since I’ve posted, but life has kind of gotten busy for me these past few years. But I realized it’s been five years since I miniaturized, so I knew that was worth a post. So, let me celebrate my five year anniversary!” She made a happy face and held her hands up as if in celebration. Then said, “So five years of living in this wonderful community. It really is like a resort, there’s a lake and everything! It’s where I met my husband, and we’ve been married for two years now. And then there’s little Anya!” She held up a baby, who looked blankly at the screen.
“I can’t take Anya out of the community for safety reasons,” Chloe said, “And I don’t want to leave her, so my visits outside have been rarer. So you’ll have to wait a while before seeing little me again, with my tiny three and a half inch tall body. But most of you have seen me face to face now, since I’ve been a frequent visitor to all you giant people and your oversized world.” She laughed. Then the video ended.
“She seems happy,” the girl said behind him.
“Good for her,” the boy said, “I don’t understand it, but at least she’s content with her life.”
“Yeah,” the girl said, “No way I’d ever consider doing something like that.”
“Me neither,” he said. “I saw a miniature person last week, they were out with a regular sized person, of course. The second I’ve seen in about a year. But they really aren’t that common.”
“No, the girl said, “Only a few people actually do that. And they’re a shy bunch, preferring to stay out of sight. But I don’t know anyone who has done it, and no one I know has anyone they know themselves.”
“It’s still rare after all these years,” he said, “I definitely understand why.”
“It’s a strange person who does something like that,” she said, “And there aren’t that many people out there crazy enough to do that.” They looked for and selected other videos to watch, from people who weren’t miniaturized. The topic was soon forgotten between them.


Chapter One

George called a family meeting in the living room, and his wife, son and daughter gathered. He looked at his wife, and she nodded. They had discussed this so many times, and now they had made their decision. Hopefully their sixteen year old daughter and eighteen year old son took it well.
“We have decided to be miniaturized,” he announced.
“Wait…you mean…” Trina started, and Cal finished, “We’re going to be shrunk?”
“Yes. We’re going to do it, as a family,” George stated.
His children stared at him, aghast.
The ability to miniaturize living creatures had been discovered nearly a decade before, but kept secret as it was researched. It had since been made public and been widely known for a couple years now, but it was extremely rare for anyone to actually choose to do it. The process involved an organisms cells being liquefied, and excreted as sweat, urine or fecal waste. Tissues and organs would contract, but retain their original shape and functionality. They would get smaller and smaller, all at once, and the larger organism lost mass and contracted in size. The process was completely safe, and even reversible if needed. But the reversal process was expensive and took a lot of energy. Something could be reduced in size to a fraction of their original size, even down to a few inches. While surviving at that size may not be survivable on its own, scientists had come up with a way to use quantum particles to surround the organism, creating a field around them that protected them from the harsh environment, creating an unbreakable safe bubble around them. Horses, elephants, tiger and wolves had all been miniaturized, and survive for generations. And a few brave human volunteers had been miniaturized as well, living for years as research subjects. And now the general public was given the option to do it as well. They were provided insulated communities, where they could live together, safe from the much larger world. Not many had done it, of course. Not many would. But there were a very few who, for some reason, did.
They stared at each other in silence, as the young pair let it all sink in.
“I’ll have to say goodbye to all my friends,” Trina said sadly after a moment.
“And give everything up,” Cal added.
“You can still visit, afterwards,” Evelyn said, their mother trying to reassure them.
“Yes, but we’ll be…small!” Trina said.
“It would be awkward,” George said, “At first. But you’ll make new friends anyway, you may not even want to go out into the big world. We’ll live in a special Habitat. We have a community picked out.”
“It is a nice, mostly middle class community,” Evelyn said.
“Is it for good?” Trina asked, “I heard that it’s reversible, then I‘ve heard that it’s not.”
“It is possible to reverse it,” George explained, “But that process is difficult and taxing on the body. You’d be sick for weeks as your body rebuilt itself. And because it’s so expensive, the agency requires that people who miniaturize intend to stay that way. They intend for it to be a life decision. They prominently say that they are under no obligation to return someone to their original size. They are capable of it, but prefer not to. And have every right to refuse someone the procedure.”
“So physically is reversible, but practically it’s not,” Trina said, “So it’s basically permanent.”
“Yes, you do it intending it to be permanent,” Evelyn said, “You may change your mind at some point, and choose to go back. But they will not let you, and it has to be years after you’ve originally done it.”
“So it will be for the rest of our lives,” George said.
“How long do we have?” Cal asked.
“Months. Once the school term is over, we’ll be doing it. We’ll sell the house and all our possessions, since we won’t really need them anymore.”
“All my nice clothes,” Trina said sadly.
“You can keep them, they’ll be like circus tents,” Cal said.
“And your toys will be like statues,” Trina remarked.
“They’re not toys, their collectible figurines,” he reminded her.
“Doesn’t matter,” George said, “You have months to enjoy it all, then we’ll give it all up.”
It was a stunned pair of teenagers they left the room. Their futures had been altered significantly.
“We’re going to be miniaturized,” Trina announced to her friends at lunch her next day of school. There were gasps, then a “Wow” and “Oh my”, with many open mouthed stunned looks. They all looked at her in shock and disbelief. Trina just smiled.
“Yep, we’re leaving right after the summer starts. My next school will be in the new community.”
That began several minutes of excited chatter, as if she were simply leaving the country.
Across the cafeteria, Cal was with his own friends. “My family and I will be moving after the school year is over,” he told them.
“After graduation,” his friend said, “Most of us are going off to university anyway.”
“Where will you be moving?”
“A town called Shady Pines,” he said. That was the community for those who had shrunk, located a couple hours away. But he didn’t mention that part. But someone picked it up.
“What…isn’t that a community for miniaturized folks?”
“It is,” Cal said, “We’re going to be made miniature.” His friends stared in awe and shock.
“You’re going to be shrunk?”
“Yes, with the rest of my family. We’re going to be living at Shady Pines.”
“Isn’t that supposed to be permanent?”
“It is. No going back once you’ve done it. They can grow someone back, but make it nearly impossible.”
“That’s close enough for a visit,” one said, “If you were feeling up to it.”
“I’ll definitely visit,” he said.
“Even though you’ll be…” he didn’t say it.
“Even though I’ll be…you know. It will be an interesting encounter, seeing all of you so…big.”
They laughed, and that was the topic of conversation for the rest of the period.

George and his wife found themselves at a party, a friend had invited them along to a gathering at their own friend’s home. They didn’t know anyone outside of their friend, but were welcomed. They mingled and met people, and the hosts were quite nice to them. George didn’t bring up his family’s plan to miniaturize, and while their friend knew, they didn’t bring it up either. It was nice to go out and not have that be the subject of conversation. The couple have enjoying themselves.
George sat down on the couch, with a coffee table in front of him with snacks on it. Snacks were on various tables, scattered around the house. This one had a small decorative ceramic house, with a hollow space inside and a roof. As he sat, eyeing the snacks, he noticed movement on the table. Something small caught his eye. He leaned in and looked closer, and caught sight of a girl walking across the table. She’d come out from the ceramic house, and casually walked to a bowl of chips. The figure was just a few inches tall…a miniaturized person. “Oh, hello,” he said down to her.
She stopped and turned toward him, looking up at his face, “Hello” she said in a high pitched squeaky voice. She waved her arm over her head in greeting.
“I’m sorry,” he said, “I didn’t mean to interrupt you going…”
“It’s okay,” she said, “I expect to talk to people. It is a party, after all.”
As he looked at her, she realized she was young, very young. Much younger than the thirty and forty something guests. She must have been in her early twenties or late teens, he guessed.
“Are you friends with the hosts?” he asked.
“I’m their daughter,” the tiny girl said, “Moira.”
“Well hello Moira, I’m George.”
“Nice to meet you, George,” Moira said, then asked, “So how do you know my parents?”
“I’m actually a friend of a friend. Justin and Addie brought my wife and I.”
“I know Addie,” Moira said, “Nice lady. I’ve met Justin a few times, but haven’t really talked to him.”
George lay his arms across his knees as he leaned forward, and the girl walked toward the table edge.
“So you’ve miniaturized,” he said, “that’s an interesting choice.”
“Yes, it has been interesting. But I’m glad I did it. I had been considering it for years, while I was in school. I decided when I was done with school, I would do it. And I went through with it. My parents supported me in my decision. Even if it is for life.”
“How old are you, by chance?” George asked, “I’ve only really heard of older folks doing it.”
“I’m twenty three,” the girl said, “There are a few others my age, even younger. But you’re right, it’s mostly people in their late thirties or older. Four fifths of people are over thirty five.”
“But there are young people?”
“Yes. I’ve made friends at the community I live at,” Moira said, “But I do like to visit home and see my family. Most don’t leave the community. But I do. I don’t mind the big things and the big people.”
“I guess not, if you’re at a party with them,” he said, “Out in the open like this.”
“Yep,” Moira said, “I’m brave. I’ve been chatting with quite a few big people tonight. I honestly like the attention. I sit out here, and talk to my parents’ friends. Who are all amazed by me, and really friendly.”
“Well that’s good,” he said down to her. They talked for several minutes, the tiny girl standing there without seeming the least bit uncomfortable with the conversation. And when they stopped talking and he sat back to look around, she’s say something and bring his attention back. When his wife sat down next to him, oblivious of the tiny girl, he introduced them. And the two women chatted as well.
Moira talked up to the couple, looming over her like massive statues. He mind could barely grasp how big they were. But she had that reaction with everyone now. Her situation wasn’t exactly natural. And her brain was still adjusting. She wasn’t surprised when they mentioned they were considering being miniaturized themselves, their questions implied they were interested. And Moira didn’t mind talking to them about it. The man had been interesting, and when his wife joined their conversation, it became outright fun. The couple was very interested in her situation.
She turned and walked toward the bowl of chips. “Do you want something?” George asked.
“No,” she turned back to him, “I can get it.” The couple watched as she walked to the bowl, whose rim was above her head. She reached up, and hopped up, and grabbed the rim. She pulled herself up, and bent her upper body over the rim. Her stomach pressed into it as she reached down, and took hold of a corner of a chip. She pushed, and broke the piece off. Then she straightened, and pushed off with her hands so she landed on the surface of the table. She walked toward the bowl of salsa, which was backyard swimming pool sized to her. She broke up the piece as she walked. This wasn’t as high, so she was able to lean over the edge, and dip the chip pieces into it, and pulled them out coated in juice. She ate, and then walked back over to the open area near the knees of the man. “Sorry about that,” she said up to him, “I was hungry, but I didn’t want to be rude.” The couple leaned back toward her, pressing shoulder to shoulder, “It’s alright,” the wife said, “You’re hungry, you have a right to eat.”
“Anyway,” she said, “Things like eating are a struggle. There’s just so much work involved in everything. But it’s all part of the adventure. And that’s why it appeals to some people. The adventure.”
They went back to conversing, she wanted to give them as much information as possible about miniaturizing, since they were considering it. They looked down on her with sharp interest in their eyes. She would later learn that her parents had heard from Addie that they were actually planning on it, and had asked her to invite them along, with the hope they’d talk to Moira. And she realized that was why they’d suggested she’d hang around out in the open and talk to the guests. Which she quite enjoyed. She wasn’t normally a social girl, but she liked seeing people’s reactions to her tiny self.

Moira felt tired of socializing, so she went into the ceramic house on the table, which was empty except for a bed. A bed made for a really small doll, with a folded cloth to give her some cushion. It came from the dollhouse that she stayed in while she was here, which her parents had bought for her after she’d shrunk. Old dollhouses for children that had long since grown, they were now in high demand if they happened to be sized right. Actual people could live in them now, amazingly. But for tonight she’d stay in the decorative ceramic house, with its cold walls and cold floor. She laid down, hearing the surrounding chatter through the walls. She hadn’t realized how tired she was, she’d spent all day walking, running, climbing and being carried from room to room. Hanging around with big people was exhausting, she was coming to realize. And now she could finally relax. And she slipped off to sleep.
She woke up the next morning, hearing something massive moving around outside. She got up, walked across the ceramic floor, and out the oblong hole in the wall that was a doorway. To find her sister’s face grinning down at her. “Oh, hi,” she said, waving her arm over her head. The face loomed over her, with the smile widening to show her slabs of white teeth. Then the mouth moved, as the girl said, “Hi Moira. I tapped on your dollhouse, and you weren’t there. So I thought I’d look here.”
“I was too lazy to walk back to my room,” Moira told her. Which was true, she’d woken up at times through the night, to hear the party dying down, and chosen to stay put. Weaving between the feet wasn’t something she was feeling up to in her tired state. So she’d just accepted sleeping there.
“Want breakfast?” her sister said.
“Yes,” Moira said, realizing she was hungry.
A hand laid down in front of her, thumping the table as it did, flat with the palm up. Moira stepped onto it, and sat down in the center of the palm, with her knees to her chest, with her arms wrapped around. She was lifted up into the air, feeling as if her stomach was left behind. And watched as the room glided by, with her sister’s stomach wall behind her, and her breasts above her. She was getting used to this.
They reached the kitchen, and the table, where the hand lowered and set down. Moira stood up and hopped off. She heard a beeping from across the room, and her sister went to the microwave. She returned with a steaming hot breakfast burrito. The smell immediately hit Moira, and her mouth watered. But she knew she had to wait, it would be far too hot for her. She’d burn herself.
Her sister returned, setting a glass of orange juice down with a thump. Moira stood there, arms crossed, and talked up to her formerly little sister. She hadn’t been little for years, the girl was twenty, but Moira couldn’t help but think of the irony. She herself was twenty two, which some considered barely out of childhood. And now she’d committed to spending the rest of her life tiny.
When the food cooled, she went over to it. There was already a bite out of it, as her sister had taken one. Moira felt the heat as she bent down and reached into the wrapped thing, pulling off bits of food with her fingers. She got a handful, and stepped away. And she ate, and when she had no more, she went and got more from the half eaten burrito. It was a strange way to consume food, but little people had to do things their own way. It was different, but necessary. When there was a bite left, she got the last of her meal, and a hand came and picked up the last of it. And then she was being carried away again, back to the dollhouse in her former bedroom. She was looking forward to getting out of the clothes she’d been in the day before. And she really needed a bath. Not that anyone would ever notice.
She was set down on the carpeting at her sister’s feet, which picked up and stomped off. She went to the house, to see a tub of warm water waiting for her inside. They’d opened the house up and put it in there while she was away. She quickly stripped off her old clothes, and hopped in. And immediately was relaxing. It felt so good, she wanted to stay in all day.


Chapter Two

A couple months later, as they were going through the process of getting rid of all their things, and looking forward to their new home, Trina was walking down the hall of her school, glad it was the end of the day. She tried not to stress about her future, and how everything would change for her. The only way her mind could handle it was as if she were moving away and wouldn’t come back. The alternative was too strange. She couldn’t even imagine coming back afterward. For now, she was with her friends, doing their usual things. Suddenly there was loud chattering by people they passed. People were hurrying down the hall, talking excitedly. Then some would hurry back with their friends. Something was going on. They walked closer, to see a crowd had gathered at the front lobby.
“What’s going on?” Trina asked a girl who was coming from that way.
“It’s Hugh Hill,” the girl said, “He’s come for a visit.”
“I haven’t heard anything of Hugh since he graduated,” one of Trina’s friends said. He had finished school and left town two years before that, and hadn’t been back. His sister still went to school here, in Cal’s year. Trina knew her, but not well. But Marina rarely mentioned her brother.
“Marina, his sister, brought him in. He’s been miniaturized.” The girl turned her head to look at Trina, and gave a knowing smiled. Trina felt a chill run through her. The others looked at her too, with knowing looks and some smirks. It was common knowledge what she and her family would be doing once school ended. They didn’t talk about it, only the odd vague mention here and there.
“Wow, so he’s mini?” one of her friends said. Throwing another glance at Trina.
“Yep,” the girl said, “As little as a hamster.” With that she hurried off, probably to tell her other friends.
They found the table the boy was on, in the cafeteria. There was a box on the table, acting as a platform, putting Hugh at shoulder level to most of them. There was a crowd, of course. And they made their way through the large group, it was difficult at first, as everyone was pressed together, but when people looked and saw Trina, they moved out of the way for her. They moved toward the front, and soon spotted him…the tiny boy chatting with the regular sized boys and girls. He was hard to see, he was so small, but they caught his movements. It took several minutes for Trina and her friends to make it to the front of the line, and those there already saw her and moved aside, and they found themselves face to face with the finger sized young man, one they had known years before when he was regular sized. He had the same golden blond hair as before, and the slender physique. He seemed happy and talkative, chatting with whomever came his way. He stepped back and forth, moving his hands and arms as he talked. His voice was different, it was high pitched with a squeak to it. It would be faint, but it was amplified somehow. His blonde haired sister stood next to the table, not conversing, just standing and watching, and smiling silently. If someone said something to her, she simply smiled and nodded. She was normally a social girl, but it was clear that she wanted her brother to have the attention.
“Hello,” Hugh said brightly as a new group came to the front, waving his arm over her head. His voice was so high pitched, sounding almost silly. “You all look so much older than before. I’d say grown up, but everyone looks grown to me now.” He laughed, and they sniggered.
Marina leaned down and put her lips almost to her brother’s head, and whispered something. His attention went to Trina, as he looked up at her with a smile.
“I won’t be doing any more growing,” Trina said down to him, “I’ll be joining you soon.”
“Is that so?” Hugh asked, “You’re going to become a mini?”
“Yes,” she said apprehensively, looking at the people watching her, “I’m going to be made your size.”
“I’ll have you to hang out with while at Shady Pines. Be sure to bring a shoe for a guest bedroom.” They chuckled. He made a few more jokes. He hadn’t been a joker before, but the jokes clearly eased the tension. Watching him, she realized how incredibly anxious he must be. On display among giants, a terrifying thought. And here he was, just joking and talking as if it were normal.
“So how is it?” one girl asked.
“Much the same. The community is just like a town, with nice people and fun entertainment. It’s enclosed, with a false blue sky overhead, so it never rains, is cloudy or gets too cold or hot. I have a nice hobby-job, a nice girlfriend, good friends, it really is nice.” He had never been very popular before, and hadn’t really dated, so it was nice to hear things had gone better for him.
“That’s neat,” another boy said, “But what’s it like being…you know? Shrunk and out in the world?”
“Interesting,” he said, “This is my first excursion out in public. I’ve been home and visited my family every few months. But I haven’t gone out until now. I needed to work up the courage.”
“We’re glad you did,” a girl said, “We like seeing you.”
Hugh talked more about his life, and his visits to home as a tiny. It seemed quite interesting.
Trina found herself hanging around, she stood to the side as others came and went, listening to the tiny man talk. Her friends soon left and the crowd thinned, but she stayed, listening.
“So you’re going to be miniaturized, too, huh.” He said up to her when there were no more eager students trying to greet him. She looked down, she hadn’t been staring at him, just looked at the faces on the crowd. He was looking up at her.
“Yes, I will be,” she said, “In a few months, I’ll be like you.”
“It’s fun,” he said, “And interesting. Most don’t leave the communities, and stay around people their own size. I didn’t want to do that, I’d rather keep in contact with the real world.”
“Even if you’re around big people?” We must be intimidating as giants to you.”
“Yes, you are. But I’ve been around my family, and they’re gentle with me.”
“We do get a little rough with him at times,” Marina said, looking down at her diminutive brother.
“My little sister likes the size reversal,” he said, “Now she’s the big one.”
“Yep,” she said, “It’s great. I already have a little brother, but now I have a real little one, too.”
“So people treat you well?” she asked, “When you’re so much smaller?”
“They do treat me well. Most are afraid of hurting me. It takes practice to handle us.”
“I just don’t want to be crushed,” Trina said.
“Crushing him is the best part,” Marina said with a grin, “Don’t worry, little people are quite durable.”
“So you said you’re changing at the end of the school year,” he said, getting a nod, “But you have to be only what, sixteen? You were around fourteen when I last saw you two years ago.”
“Yes,” she said, “Sixteen.”
“But how are you being miniaturized? One has to be eighteen, and there’s a two year required wait after applying for anyone younger than eighteen.”
“My family is doing it,” Trina said, “So I get in with them. No wait.”
“You know, you don’t have to go with them,” he said, “You can opt out and live with a relative until you’re eighteen. Let them get mini and you stay normal.”
“No,” she said, “I’m doing it. I want to do it.”
“Just know it’s not something you have to do,” he said.
“I know. Anyway, if there’s a two year wait, and you were miniaturized…you said you’ve been this way for a year, but you’re twenty. How does that math work?”
“I applied at seventeen,” he said, “And miniaturized at nineteen. And am twenty now.”
“Wow, so you applied for it while you were a student here?”
“Yes. They want to give young people a chance to change their minds. I never did. And don’t regret it.”
“Good,” Trina said with a smile. It didn’t sound bad at all.
After more questions for Hugh, Trina decided she’d taken enough of his time. She had been asking hers while others were coming up to him to talk as well. So she said, “I’ve bothered you enough.”
“You’re not a bother,” he said, “You’re questions actually go beyond simply curiosity. I’m not some oddity on display to you. Most just ask the same questions, too. And I can tell you’re with engaging me differently than the others, since you’re going to be this way soon too.”
“Well, thanks for talking to me,” and she turned to leave.
“Wait,” she heard faintly behind her. She turned, and he said, “If you want to know any more, we can talk sometime. So you know what to expect before you become mini. You can talk with my girlfriend, too. We’ve both learned a lot about it in the last year.”
“Thanks, I may have to take you up on that.” With that, he turned to someone else in the crowd.
“Bye,” she said, and she went to push back through the crowd to get out and catch up to her friends. She got odd looks and knowing smirks from those she passed, but did not let it bother her.

Hugh was getting tired, and he saw Marina yawning. “I think that might be enough,” he said.
Marina turned her head, and looked down at him, from so far away it seemed, “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” he said. The crowd had gone, though students still walked by, glancing at him or even waving.
Marina turned to face him, bent down, and reached for him. Two fingers slid around his midsection, tightened, and lifted him off the platform. Marina held him in front of her face, giving a warm smile.
“I wish I got this much attention from girls when I went here. And was full sized.”
“You’re an oddity, and people like that kind of thing. And you’re nice, people may not have known you well, but they remember you were a good guy. Plus little people are cute. And girls like cute things.”
“I’m not cute,” he said, talking more to her nose than anywhere else on her face.
“Anyway,” she said, “I have to pee. So it’s definitely time to go. Back in the purse with you.”
With that, she bent, reached down and grabbed her purse off the floor, and set it on the table. She unzipped it, and lowered Hugh down inside. She slid her fingers away from him, and slowly lifted the purse, and slung the band over her shoulder. She looked down, to see him there at the opening, looking up at her. “Well, let’s go,” she said, “Enjoy the ride.” With that she began walking, the contents of the purse jostling him inside. But he was used to that by now.
He yelled. She looked down as she walked. He could see her side, shoulder and head above him, as her eyes went to him. “I need to pee.” He shouted up to her. He’d had to for a while now, but with people around talking to him, he hadn’t had a chance to get away for privacy.
“Well don’t do it in there,” she said, reaching down toward him. Her fingers slid around his midsection again, and lifted him out, holding him in front of her face. “Can’t you wait until we’re outside, and just go in the grass? After I’ve stopped in the girl’s room, of course.”
“Can’t wait that long,” he said, “You take forever in the bathroom.”
“Ugh, she said, and she looked around. She stepped up to the wall, in front of a bulletin board. “I’ll set you down, and you can go on the floor.”
“I can’t just go on the floor,” he said, suspended in mid-air in front of her eyes.
“You can. It’s not like anyone can see you. And no one will notice the puddle.”
She bent down, and placed him on the floor, next to her shoe. She stood, facing the board as if she were reading something. One shoe slid closer, so he was a pace away from either of them. They were like cars, he thought, he was peeing in between two cars. He reached down and pulled everything out, and relieved himself. When he was done, he stood there, next to her shoes. He looked from side to side at the massive things. Slightly behind him, her ankles and legs rose up like smooth, thick columns. Then the shadows shifted, and he looked up to see her bending over and reaching for him. He was soon back in her purse, as she walked down the hallway. He felt much better.
They stopped, and he heard talking. He looked up to see Marina talking with someone.
“Hugh? You want to see him? He’s right here,” he heard. And the purse was jostled and pulled open farther, and a face came into view. The red haired girl’s face covered the whole opening, as she looked in amusement. She smiled wide as she looked down at him.
“Hello Huey,” she said, “Do you remember me?”
“Yes,” he shouted, standing up in the mass of clutter. “Leila, right?”
The girl’s smile widened, “Neat, you do remember me. I always thought you were so cute.”
“Too bad you were fourteen at the time,” he said up to the giant girl, strands of her curly red hair hanging down from beside her face.
“I was fifteen,” she said, “I know that’s too young for an eighteen year old. But I’m seventeen now.”
“But do you date super small men?” he asked.
“No,” she said sadly, “One kiss gone bad, and you’re lodged in my throat. Would be an awkward date.”
“Yes, I try not to get eaten on my dates.”
“Well, despite the joking, you are cute,” she said, “I hope you enjoy being small.”
“I do enjoy it,” he said, “Every day is an adventure.”
“As long as you don’t get stepped on,” Leila said.
“I know how to watch out for feet. You big people stomp so much it’s hard to miss your huge shoes.”
“I image that must get annoying,” Leila said, “Us bigs are loud and probably shake everything.”
“You do,” he said, “But I’m slowly getting used to it.”
They chatted back and forth some, going from joking to serious and back. Marina waited patiently, until the girl said, “It was nice seeing you. Hopefully you come back, I like seeing minis.”
“Trina is going to be miniaturized,” he said up to her, “I’m sure she’ll come to town afterward.”
“Yeah,” Leila said, “Her and Cal are going to be. This miniaturizing thing is getting pretty popular.”
“There are only a few thousand people that have done it,” he said.
“Oh, I thought it would be more popular.”
“Nope. For obvious reasons, some people don’t like the idea.”
“Well I like the idea. Not for me, but for others. You’re all so cute! Anyway…it was nice talking.”
Her face moved out of view, and he heard her feet tapping on the floor tiles as she walked away. Marina looked down, “You are popular all of a sudden. You must love the attention.”
“It’s nice on rare occasions,” he said. With that, they were walking again.
Marina went into the girl’s room, and heard her brother yell. “Do you have to bring me here?”
“I can’t just leave you outside, someone might grab you. Keep you for a pet or something.”
She went into a stall, and zipped the purse shut. She set it down, and pulled her pants down and sat.
“Finally,” she breathed, closing her eyes in relief. She’d waited far too long.
Inside the dark interior of the purse, Hugh waited. He heard the gushing of liquid from above, glad that the top was shut. He didn’t think he’d have the strength to pull the zipper closed himself.
After a moment, there was the sound of fabric rubbing, and he knew his sister was moving. He felt the space shudder as she put her hand on the purse, and the zipper was pulled back. He looked up, to see her bare leg rising up to end at the rounded knee. Above that, her face hung as she looked down at him.
“Can you get me a tampon?”
“Yuck,” he said quietly, then loudly, “Yes, I’ll look.” It was better than her reaching in and digging with him on there. So he began tossing things away, rooting through the mess of clunk boxes, cases and tissues. He found the box, and pulled the flap open. Then he grabbed one end of the oblong thing, and pulled it out. It was wrapped in plastic, fortunately. He put it until one arm and climbed back up to the top of the pile, and yelled up to her waiting face. He held it up, and two fingers reaching down and took hold of it. She lifted it away, and her face disappeared as she sat back up.
“Aren’t you going to close this thing while you do that?” he asked, but she could not hear.
He sat back down, glad he could see only her leg. It jolted and swayed, as she did her thing above, out of sight. Then her hand lowered the plastic wrapping, dropping it into the bag, it landed next to him. He felt the legs shake, as they braced for her to stand, and he slid down the pile and looked at the wall. He knew if he looked up, that image would burn into his mind. He heard the rustling of fabric, as she pulled her pants up. Then he was lifted into the air, as she flushed and put the purse back over her shoulder. He sat wedged between a makeup case and the wall, finding the spot comfortable. He heard her distant tapping steps far below as she walked, and the door swing as she exited the washroom. It would be a good place to relax on the way home. He was more exhausted than he wanted to admit.

Trina and Cal walked home from school that day. “Did you talk to Hugh?” she asked him.
“I did. I didn’t mention that I’d be doing the same.”
“I told him. Everyone knows anyway,” Trina stated.
“I don’t think I’ll be stopping by the school afterwards,” Cal admitted. “I probably won’t even leave the community. Most people don’t leave their secure area after miniaturizing.”
“Yeah, I don’t know if I’ll have the courage to come out…being so small.”
“We’d be small to them, but normal to us, in the community with others. I’d prefer to stay comfortable.”
“Same here,” Trina said, “I can’t even image how that would be.” She shuddered.

Hugh felt the impact of the purse being set down. Then he was thrown as it fell to its side, with things crashing down around him. He pushed himself up, and stepped to the zipper. He pulled it open, stepping to the side as he dragged the heavy metal thing. He stepped through the opening, out into the light. He saw large shapes in front of him as his eyes adjusted. He saw one taller shape, Marina, and a less tall shape, which was Regina, his youngest sister. The girl sat talking up to her older sister, then when Marina glance down, she looked down as well, and broke off what she was saying.
“I hope the ride was comfortable,” Marina said, “Nothing fell on you hopefully.”
“Very smooth,” he said up to her, “it’s quite comfortable in there.”
“So how was the excursion back to your old school?” Regina asked, looking down past her shoulder.
“Interesting,” he said, “Everyone got just a little older.”
“And a lot taller,” Marina said, “at least to you.”
The twelve year old laughed, “I hope no one tried to walk off with him.”
“No, no one tried,” the seventeen year old stated, “Everyone was very respectful.”
“See? It is possible,” he said up to them.
“It’s not as fun to be nice, though,” Regina said with a smile.
Sisters were always annoying, Hugh thought to himself, but giant ones were just unbearable.

Chapter Three

After selling or giving away all their possessions, they were ready for the life changing process. It would be quick, they were told, and they would be unconscious and unaware of the transition as it occurred. The strange part would be waking up afterward, and realizing that it had been done. But the family of four felt they were ready, and were looking forward to their new home. So with only the clothes on their back, they boarded the transport bus when it came for them. They had said their goodbyes, knowing that if they saw anyone ever again, things would be much, much different.
It was a quiet ride to the facility, with a few others on board the transport van. No one spoke, the strangers were as silent as they were. No one really looked at anyone else, they just stared ahead. It was an uncomfortable ride. And when they arrived at the secluded location, they quietly departed, and took their last looks around before going inside. The facility was in a forest, so it was just trees and greenery around them, and the warehouse sized building. Inside had a bland and sterile look, with gray walls and metallic furniture. Nothing cozy about this place. They were met by a guide, who welcomed them to the facility in a voice cold and devoid of emotion. Then they were led into a room with chairs, where they waited. Knowing it was their last chance to change their minds. But while they were nervous, none was regretting their decision. They knew there was no going back, and were going ahead.
One by one, each person was called for and taken away, accompanied to area where the transformation would be begun. Soon, it was only them and another family, with young children. The kids looked nervous, but were calm and quiet. The parents looked nervous too.
A woman poked her head into the room, “Trina?” Cal watched his sister stand up, and walk wordlessly to the woman at the door. She was led through, and the door closed behind her. Then it was his turn. He got up and followed the woman down the corridors to a small room, with a bed.
“Remove your clothing and lay down on the bed,” she said. Then she motioned for him to go inside. The metal door closed behind him, and he was overcome with a feeling of dread.
Trina lay in the bed, naked. It was cold. There were no sheets to cover up with. It wasn’t long before another woman came in, to administer the shots. She seemed friendlier.
“Are you afraid of needles?” she asked.
“No,” Trina answered, feeling awkward at her nakedness.
“Good,” the nurse said, “There’s a dozen of these that you’ll be getting.”
And she indeed did get a dozen shots, at various points on her arms, legs, back and torso. And even in her buttocks. One actually went into her spine. And some even in her toes.
As the nurse stuck her, she explained, “I’m sure you’re wondering why it’s not just one shot. These are all different serums that react when together. We can’t combine them outside the body without them reacting. And the resulting compound isn’t viable. They have to combine inside the body.”
“And what does happen when they react inside me?” Trina asked.
“They start killing cells and vaporizing whatever they come in contact with,” she woman said bluntly. “It destroys your body. But it’s only ninety nine percent effective, like those solutions that kill ninety nine percent of germs. There’s always some left. And what’s left of you…will be your miniaturized self.”
“But how does it leave me…intact?” Trina asked, feeling drowsy as the last shot was done and the woman stepped away from her. “Wouldn’t it kill me? Rather than leaving a perfectly formed person?”
“The nanobots protect what is to remain,” the nurse said, “That was the first few shots. They bond with specific molecules, preventing those from being destroyed. And they break down shortly afterward, being excreted with the rest of your shed mass of dead cells. Everything is liquefied. Some comes out as sweat, you’ll be soaked worse than if you were on the sun. But most of it comes out as your urine.”
“So massive sweating and peeing myself,” Trina said, her eyes too heavy to keep open. “So pleasant.”
“You’ll be out for it,” the nurse said, her voice seeming to trail away, “You’ll definitely want to be asleep for the massive doses of radiation you’re about to get. That’s what really gets everything started.”
Trina wondered if she should be alarmed, everything she was about to go through sounded horrible. But she was too tired to dwell on it. She heard the steps retreating and the door closing, which echoed strangely in her head. She was alone. And she couldn’t help but drift off to sleep.

Days later, Trina found herself outside of the enclosure that they were staying in. It was truly a box, but it seemed like an apartment inside. She was standing on the counter, after being examined. A huge mountain of a woman loomed over her, writing down notes from the examination.
“You’re perfectly healthy,” the woman said without looking up. Her writing made a grinding noise on the pad of paper to Trina’s ears. After a moment, she looked over at Trina, and smiled.
Trina used her arm to cover her chest, feeling self-conscious about being naked and out in the open. But the tests and exams required the subject be nude. And the woman didn’t even seem to notice. Her small breasts didn’t exactly stick out, and someone would need a magnifying glass to really see her.
“Everything is going well,” the giant said, her voice echoing from the surface at Trina’s feet.
“Is there ever a problem?” Trina asked.
“Not usually. If there is, we get the person back to normal size immediately. But that’s extremely rare.”
“I imagine most of the issues would be mental,” Trina said up to the giant.
“Most of them are. And most of this interaction is just to get you used to talking to big people.”
“I don’t think I could ever be used to this,” she said, lowering her arm.
“Some never interact with big people again,” The woman said, “They stay in the Community forever. But some choose to go back and visit. We try to help them with the adjustment as much as possible.”
“Yikes,” Trina said, “Going back sounds incredibly scary.”
The woman smiled down at her, “It is. It can be outright terrifying, from what I hear. But some brave ones venture out. It all depends if one has an adventurous spirit.”
“I met someone who came outside, he was actually in the school cafeteria, with us big people lined up to see him. Tiny little guy, with all those giants around him…talking to us as if things were perfectly normal. Some of the people he knew, others he didn’t. I didn’t realize how brave he was for doing that. I see it more as crazy,” Trina admitted, “I don’t know if I’ll ever work up the courage for that.”
The research tech chuckled, “That’s what they all say. But most people who do this, do it for adventure. So they’re drawn to the outside world sooner or later. Or they just get bored with the community.”
“That’s interesting,” Trina said, “I really couldn’t understand the mental aspect of it until now. I knew it would be different, but the emotions of it all…the awe inspiring grandness of everyone and everything. I’m just beginning to see what it’s all about. And I’m not sure I can handle it. Being outside, I mean.”
“You’ll get used to it,” the woman said, “They all do. It isn’t temporary, after all. There’s no going back, so you’ll have to adjust. Life will be different, but just remember it will always be this way for you.”
“Yikes,” Trina said, unable to stop a shudder. She would get used to it at some point, which was an even stranger thought. As strange as everything was, it being a common sight was even stranger.

Cal stood on the desk, with the various equipment and tools placed nearby like odd houses, with him in the vast open area that was used for examinations. A young man loomed over him, moving his massive frame to adjust things or lean down to make notes on the stack of papers. He was Xin, in his late twenties, with black hair and light skin. He wore a white lab coat, and wore circular glasses. He had a slight accent, but clearly had grown up and been educated in this country. Sheji was his name, and he’d been examining Cal for the past few days. He was friendly, and put Cal at ease. He didn’t know what was more awkward, the size difference, or the fact that Cal was naked. But the man didn’t seem to care.
“Things are looking good for you, Calvin,” Sheji said, “Everything came back saying you’re perfectly healthy. But that’s always the case. The shrinking process is non-harmful.”
“Of course you would have to say that,” Cal said up to the giant.
The man chuckled, “I would. But it’s the truth. We are very heavily regulated and closely watched. One issue, and the government would shut us down immediately. The fact we still do it means it is safe.”
Cal had known that, of course. He’d done his own research, as had the rest of his family. And likely every other ‘subject’. They knew what they were getting into. The man reached down, holding some metallic instruments. Cal knew they’d be cold to the touch, and knew he had to focus. He couldn’t be looking around at the giant surroundings during these tests. That would be one thing he’d have to adjust to, paying attention to whatever he was doing, not looking at how everything was big now. Though it was hard to ignore. It was definitely going to be a distraction from here on out, he knew.
Afterwards, he was set down in front of the box his family was staying in. The interior was spacious, each of them had their own rooms and there were nice common areas. But it looked small from the outside. As he stood there, there was an echoing thumping sound, and he turned to see a giant sized lab worker approaching, holding cupped hands at her stomach. She reached the shelf, and set the hands down. Trina hopped out of them, and said something to the giant. The huge woman turned and left, with thunderous footsteps, and Cal approached his sister. “How was it” he asked.
“It was fine,” she said, “More annoying than anything. Like an extended doctor’s visit.”
“I’ll be glad when they’re done, and we can go on to the community.”
“Oh, they are done,” Trina said as they went to the door, “Today was the last day. Didn’t they tell you?”
“No,” he said, relieved. “But it’s really good to hear.” He wanted to move on with his life now.
They walked into the chamber, which was made to look like a front room of a house, to see their parents waiting. They realized too late that they were both still naked. But neither adult said anything, as the pair tiredly collapsed into chairs. “Today was out last day of testing,” George said brightly.
“Yes,” their mother said, “We get to go to our new homes tomorrow.”
“Can’t wait,” Cal said, “These tests are exhausting. You’d think after all these years of studying minis, they wouldn’t need so much data on us. Or to check us so thoroughly.”
“Well at least it’s over,” their father said, “And while it’s certainly the most unusual thing to ever happen in any of our lives, we can settle back into normalcy at our new home tomorrow.
“I’m pretty sure we’ll be having a lot of ‘most interesting thing to ever happen to us in our lives’ from now on,” Trina said. The others nodded sadly. The weight of their decision was now a reality.

They stayed inside a one room container for the trip to the community, playing games or talking. The surroundings were normal looking, allowing the family of four to forget about the changes they had gone through. It was a cramped space, but it was only for a couple hours. Most of that would be the courier taking the container, or traveling case, through the city, out into the country, and down the side roads to the domed facility. There were many gates to go through, and there was a tight schedule on when new arrivals were coming. It was not easy to get though, they were told. They felt a light swaying at times, while their container was being carried, or picked up and set down. But they weren’t being tossed around inside, and didn’t lose their balance. They just sat down during those times. There were special form fitting chairs, which were exceptionally comfortable, with straps if needed.
Finally, there was a jarring motion, and the light around the door illuminated green. They went to the door, and it unsealed and opened. A tunnel was revealed on the other side. They found the orientation area, and someone came to talk them through their first days there. They were then taken to a train, which went through another tunnel, stopping at various places every few minutes. Then they reached their own stop, where they got off with all their stuff.
They emerged out into a striking world. While technically in a dome, it really seemed as if they were outside. The sky was blue, there was a slight breeze, and the temperature was perfect. The train station was a modest structure, surrounded by buildings that were built like a medieval town. White plastered walls spaced between timbers, with some fully stone houses and a few wooden ones. Green plants stuck up out of the ground, normally small plants but they looked huge here. They were just off the main street, where people milled about as if everything was normal. They found the “new entrants” office, and were given loads of important information about their new home. It did not take them long to find the cottage just outside of town that they would be living in. There were other homes, well spaced apart on their row. There was plenty of room, and it was quite nice. The furniture was hand-made, but there were modern appliances as well. They soon settled in.
Days later, they had met most of the people in their village, and found their way around the main streets, where buildings were clustered together. They met their neighbors, and found the various activities that would entertain them. There were sports, plays, classes for hobbies, and anything else one would need to socialize and feel at home. They soon realized that they would like it there.
They were relaxing when they got a surprise visitor. Trina opened to door to a face she did not recognize. “I’m Hugh,” he announced, “we met at your and my old school.”
“Oh!” Trina said in realization, “My gosh! I didn’t recognize you!”
Hugh laughed, “Of course not. You’ve only seen me from afar. You were like, three feet away. No way you’d get a good look at my face from that far a distance.”
Trina yelled into the house, and Cal joined them. “Oh…hello Hugh,” he said in surprise.
“Do you live in this town or village or whatever it is?” Trina asked.
“No, I live about two hours walk away. I decided to come here to see how you were settled in.”
“A two hour walk?” Trina said, perplexed, asking “Is the dome really that big?"
“It is,” he said, “But it’s not a straight walk. Roads and trails meander, going through multiple places.”
“Wow, it’s so good to see you. I didn’t think we’d run into anyone we knew,” Trina said.
“Do you want me to show you around? If you have the afternoon free, of course.”
“Definitely,” the two siblings said.
They were soon walking in a field outside of where people lived. There was no one around, but plants poked up out of the ground, and the turf was a dark green.
“Is this moss under our feet?” Trina asked.
“It is,” Hugh said. He pointed out to a distant tree, “And that is a bonsai tree.”
“It looks…like a normal sized tree,” Cal remarked.
They walked past dandelions that stuck up over their heads, and one stemmed flowers that had petals even with their shoulders. They poked their faces in and sniffed the fragrant scents. A towering plant looked like a tall tree, but was only a two foot tall fern. There was a deep trench, about a dozen paces deep, with steep but walkable slopes on the sides. At the bottom were flowering plants, whose tops were even with ground at the top of the trench. They looked around in amazement at everything.
“This is how it is,” Hugh said, “They make everything as visually stunning as possible. You won’t forget your size relative to how you were, we’re obviously much smaller, but it’s in a really nice way.”
“I can see that,” Trina said, admiring a forest in the distance made up of flowering plants, which covered the hills that surrounded them. This really was a pleasant place. Even the air was fresh and fragrant.


Chapter Four

They had lost track of how long they had been there, but were sure it was weeks, maybe a couple months. Time didn’t change in the Habitat. There were no seasons, no cold spells or heat waves, and the weather every day was the same. Cal and Trina had made new friends, and were used to hiking through the woods or traipsing through the meadows. The trees were fake, as were the prairie grasses, but they looked realistic up close. There was moss instead of grass, and huge flowers larger than their heads poked out of the ground. The streets were soft dirt, which did not rise up like dust, or stick to their shoes or feet. People walked everywhere, except a few bicycles or electric carriages. Houses were made to look like stone cottages, with thatched roofs and small plants in their garden. There were real gardens outside of town, with massive tomatoes and turnips, and carrot stalks high as small trees. The center of town was bustling, with people going from shop to shop, or restaurant or theater. There were many plays and artistic expositions, with plenty of other entertainment. It was obvious why no one ever thought of leaving. Not even for a short time. Especially with what lied on the outside world.
So Cal and Trina were surprised when they arrived home from a trip to the town square with their friends, to their parents announcing, “We are visiting your grandparents.”
“Uh…” Trina mouthed, “Do you remember that we’re…”
“Yeah,” Cal said “We can’t leave the habitat. Everything out there is…big!”
“It won’t be bad,” their father said, “My parents will be very kind and gentle. And they’re always loving and friendly. They won’t do anything to make us uncomfortable. We’ll be safe.”
“Safe? What about the fact that they’re giants!” Trina exclaimed, “We’re so small now.”
“We’ll be insulated from the outside world as much as possible,” their mother said, “just a small amount of interaction with family. They’ll be giant, and it will be unnerving at first. But I’m sure we’ll get comfortable with it.”
“We’ll travel in a portable hotel room,” their father said, “Called a travel case. A courier will take us there in this insulated ‘room’, and drop us off. We won’t come out until we’re safely at our destination.
The kids stared at their parents, open mouthed. They were actually going to be going back out into the world! The big world, with giant sized…everything! They were the size of mice, only a few inches tall.
“My parents kept insisting,” George said, “until I promised that we would visit something. I thought that would be the end of it, and they’d give us a few years to get settled before leaving. But they kept bringing it up, and insisting we visit. They really want to see their shrunken grandchildren.
“Ugh,” Trina grunted, “What we are isn’t even natural. Shrinking people practically breaks the laws of physics. Humans aren’t meant to be this tiny. We need to be insulated from the outside world!”
She got a commiserating look from Cal, but her parents wouldn’t budge. It was happening. And it was not going to be pleasant.

They sat strapped in their form fitting chairs, feeling the slight movement from their “room” as it swung back and forth, and tilted ever so slightly. The furniture in the small room was attached to the floor, and their chairs were against the walls. The looked across the room at their parents, who acted unbothered by the exaggerated movements. It was like a ship on very rough seas, but it was expected as they were carried by a regular sized person outside. It was their first foray out into the real world after being miniaturized months before.
Trina and Cal fidgeted with the metallic bracelets wrapped around their wrists. Lightweight and thin, they fit snugly, practically attached to their skin. They’d release once they were back on the habitat, but had to be worn at all times when outside, even when they slept. But they couldn’t even feel that they were there, though the silver bars around their lower arms stood out.
“Why do we need to wear these things again? So they can track us if we get lost?” Cal asked.
“No,” their mother said, “But they do have tracking chips if you activate them. They’re for communication, and if needed, defense.”
“You can send messages with those,” their father said, “And look things up if needed. And they help amplify our voices to he heard better, but you don’t need to hold them to your mouth. And most importantly, they can emit a strong electric shock to anything or anyone nearby. You can set the level of charge, but if you’re threatened, bothered or even annoyed, you can use them to defend yourself.”
“That’s something little people like us really need,” Trina said, “Though I doubt we’ll need them at Nana’s and Papa’s. However, if they had a cat, we probably would need them.”
“Or if your cousins get on your nerves,” their mother added with a chuckle, “If we ever visit them.”
The room shook some, and tilted back and forth as someone outside walked with them. They heard muffled voices, and felt more movement. Then, there was a light impact below them, with a light boom. They were set down. They waited a few moments, and there was a click above them, indicating someone outside had pressed the button on the top. Green lights lit up circling the ceiling, and around the door. They unstrapped, and on unsteady lets walked to the door. Their father pulled a lever, and the pressure seal let out, and the circular door rolled back, letting in light from outside.
The foursome stepped out of the travel case, onto a familiar looking kitchen table. Two figures loomed over them at the edge, and older man and woman. Their eyes were affixed to the small figures emerging from the travel case. Trina yelled, “Grandma! Grandpa!” and waved her arm over her head. The old couple smiled. The group walked toward the enormous pair, they were like five story buildings.
“I’m so glad all of you came,” George’s mom said happily. His father nodded agreement.
“We couldn’t pass up a visit with you both,” Evelyn said, “And the kids were ecstatic to come.”
Not quite true, they’d protested and argued each day, and grudgingly went. But seemed happy now.
They talked with the giant older couple, and they ogled their tiny grandchildren and son and daughter in law. There was awe in their voice, clearly they were amazed that people they knew so well were now so small. And the little people felt the same. Building sized people, and mouse sized people. Hopefully it would not be long before they were comfortable with each other again.
“I would have made cookies or a pie for you,” the older woman said, “but I don’t think you’d quite be able to enjoy it. Can you even eat things like sweets, or do you have special food?”
“We eat the same food,” George explained, “It’s prepared differently, though. Things are cut into slivers and strips. And seasoning had to be ground more finely. We do get whole chickens occasionally, those that were miniaturized themselves. And things like sugars and salt need to be sliced up precisely with lasers before preparation, otherwise it would be like rocks in our food.”
“So the same kinds of food then,” the giant woman said, “Interesting.”
They talked more about the new things in their lives, restaurants worked the same, as did shops and other businesses. They got a regular allotment of special money, which they could spend as they pleased. People who worked could exchange it for upgrades or amenities. They described more or how their society was different, more planned for comfort than anything. The grandparents listened intently.
After a time, the older woman said, “Trina, I would like to borrow you for a few moments.”
“Yes, Nana,” she said, stepping forward. The woman laid a hand down in front of Trina, thumping down against the table. Trina slowly and carefully stepped into it, her bare feet pressing into the lined and aged skin. She sat down in the center, looking at her family anxiously. They shared the expression.
She was lifted away, and felt she’d left her stomach behind. She rose from the table, until she saw the rest of them far below. They looked so small from up here, she thought. Then there was a jolt, as the giant woman took a step. Then another. She braced herself, looking up to see the underside of her Nana’s chin, and looked over to see her neck. She had a nice necklace, she noted, with a gold chain. She admired it as the giant woman walked with her, carrying her out of the room, through the enormous looking house, with cavernous rooms that seemed like the inside of an empty arena.
Trina was set down on a desk in the hobby room. Her Nana sat down in the chair beside it, as it creaked from her massive weight. The old woman towered over her, casting a shadow over Trina and the area around her. Around Trina was bits of cloth, string that looked as thick as ropes, needles that looked like swords, and other sewing implements. Huge hands pulled out a cloth measuring tape.
“I was hoping to make you a few nice dresses, but I can’t figure out your new dimensions,” the woman said. “Can I measure you? And you can pick out what fabric you want a dress out of.”
“Wow, that would be so nice of you, Nana,” Trina said, “I like dresses. But they do make them for us.”
“I know. But I thought you’d want something made especially for you.”
“That would be great,” she said up to the massive woman.
The hands approached, and the fingers positioned the measuring tape. Trina stood still and upright as it was wrapped around her waist, and around her chest, and her hips. Then it was held along her body, and she put her foot on it to hold it taught. “You are three and one sixth inches tall,” her grandmother announced, “Such a little thing.” She then chuckled. Trina waited as she wrote down her measurements. Then she walked from piece of fabric to piece of fabric, crouching down and feeling the cloth.
“I love this pattern, but it’s too thick,” she said. “Then she went to the next one. “I like this one, and not too thick. Nice and smooth,” she looked up, and the woman nodded. The next was far too thick and rough, “It will feel like burlap,” she told the giant woman. On to the next one, which felt light and smooth. “This will be comfortable,” she said.
“That one’s practically transparent,” her Nana said from above.
“Doesn’t matter,” Trina said, adding, “I’ll have something on underneath.” They weren’t bashful back at the Habitat. The warm and temperate climate had created an atmosphere with little modesty.
After several minutes of judging fabrics, she talked with her Nana some more. It became more of a normal conversation, both of them were more at ease now. Trina was definitely feeling more relaxed in front of the giant woman.
“Oh, there’s one more thing,” the giant said, before pushing herself up and crossing the room. She came back with a pot and a flower in it. The flower wasn’t big, only a few inches tall. She sat back down and set the pot on the desk. Trina walked up to it, putting her hands on the rim of the pot and peering up.
“I’ve been growing this, I thought you’d like to see it.”
“It’s so big, Nana,” Trina said, “As big as I am.”
Her nana laughed, “That isn’t saying much.” Trina agreed.
Trina pulled herself up, and swung her legs over the rim of the pot, and they sank into the black potting soil. She stood, and wrapped her hand around the stem. With her other, she lowered the flower to her face, and looked inside. It felt so soft in her fingers, she noted, and delicate. She buried her face inside, and took a deep sniff, letting the fragrance fill her nostrils. She let it go, then lowered herself down to the desk surface. “It was wonderful,” she said, and the older woman smiled. It really was a nice flower. And she had a special and unique view of it as well.
She was soon back in her grandmother’s hand, resting her back on the upper palm near the wrist, her legs laying on her fingers, which were like logs tied together. The hand swayed gently back and forth as the woman walked, the footsteps echoing from the floor far below. She was walking slowly and lightly, trying to make the trip as comfortable as possible for her tiny granddaughter. It was quite relaxing, she thought to herself. The rooms she was once so familiar with passed by as they went. Back in the kitchen, she hopped out of the hand once it was lowered to the table, and rejoined her family. Her grandmother sat, her massive frame making a wump sound on the chair, and a loud scraping as she it pushed forward. And a loud thump as her arms rested on the table in front of her. The rest of her family looked at her inquisitively, and she just smiled. It had been a fun trip across the house.

After returning home from their first visit to the outside world since shrinking, they were relieved. And soon inundated with their new friends in the community who wanted to know their experiences and opinions on what they’d seen. Not many actually left the communities, and the thought of interacting with “regular sized” people was an intimidating though to most. Even coping with a visit to the “Big World” was impossible to some. So the next day, Cal and Trina went out to one of the eateries on the edge of town. There were drinks and food, slivers of meat and cut chunks of fruits and vegetables. They didn’t try and make meals look normal there, people wanted it obvious they were small. So they were used to the odd food, similar to portions they’d get on the outside.
“So my Grandma and Grandpa were really interested in how we felt about all this,” Trina was explaining, “They seemed more concerned with us than our parents.”
“Because you’re kids,” their friend Naomi said, “And didn’t have much choice in it.”
“Us youngsters are kind of pushed into the whole shrinking thing,” Sven said, “I know I was by my parents. I was only twelve. I thought I had a choice at the time, but looking back five years, I really didn’t. The pressure wasn’t obvious, it was subtle. Not that I regret it. I’m glad it happened.”
“Yeah, but we’re a little older,” Trina said, “and almost adults.”
“But it still wasn’t your idea.” Which was true. They liked to think they had a say in it, but they really hadn’t. The pressure wasn’t obvious, and her parents would have accepted if she’d said ‘no’. But the point remained that it wasn’t really her choice, nor her brother’s. But there was nothing to be done about it now. They were here, and while they could leave the habitat, there truly was no going back.


Chapter Five

Once again, they were going out into the Real World. The box was set down, with a muffled thump. The rubber and fabric on the bottom absorbed much of the impact, but they still felt it. The courier had handed them off to their next hosts, with them feeling the shaking and unsteadiness of an inexperienced person taking them through the house, and setting them down somewhere. They stayed seated, waiting in the dim light of the family sized chamber. There was another impact, of something lightly tapping the roof. Moments later, a green light encircled the sealed doorway. That meant the person outside had pushed the button on the top of the box, indicating it was safe to leave. They unstrapped themselves and stood up. George went to the door with the green light, and pulled a switch. The door unsealed, as pressurized air vented out. Then he pulled another switch, and the door slid open. Light from outside lit up the few paces at the door.
They walked out, seeing the wood surface of a kitchen table sprawling out in all directions. Looming over them were two people, a man and woman. “Hello,” the massive form of George’s sister Penelope said from high above. “How was your trip?”
“It was comfortable,” George said up to the skyscraper sized blonde haired woman, “But you need to learn to carry this better.”
“I will I’m sure,” she said, and her husband nodded next to her.
“Thanks for letting us visit, Penelope,” their mother said up to them, “We’re just getting acquainted with the larger world. And it’s nice to be somewhere familiar.”
Cal and Trina looked around, seeing the large sized kitchen that they’d once known. None of it seemed familiar. Everything was distant and huge. Even the massive couple seemed strange and foreign, as big as they were. They looked like the people they had known, but didn’t seem the same. The size difference was definitely dramatic in their perception of the world.
The two couples talked, trying to sound as if everything was normal, until the children came in. Their thunderous footfalls could be heard getting louder and louder, and felt through the surface of the table. And then they appeared, building sized children, eagerness on their face. They gaped at their diminutive uncle, aunt and cousins, who stood there feeling incredibly awkward. “It will get less weird over time,” George said quietly. They nodded, wondering if that was even possible. The eager kids stood over them, grinning wide in amusement, clearly liking the size difference. They answered their curious questions. The youngsters kept their distance, still looking at them wide eyed, with their hands and arms at their sides, and the parents broke in from time to time with their own things to say. After almost an hour, it was feeling like a productive visit. Everyone started to relax some. The kids realized how boring life while miniaturized was, nothing like what they’d imagined. So they asked less and less, while the grown-ups chatted. Then their Aunt Penelope stated, “George, we have plans for dinner a night next week, and we’re seeing a comedy show afterwards. Would you both like to join us? The kids can hang out together.”
George looked at Evelyn, who eventually nodded. “It’ll be fun,” she said, “The kids will be fine.”
He looked at Cal and Trina, “Will you two be good here with your cousins?”
“I don’t think they’ll eat us,” Trina said nervously, “And we can always use these wrist thingies to zap them if they misbehave.” She held up her forearm, with the thin metallic bracelet on her wrist.
George looked back up at his sister, “We’re good with that.”
Penelope smiled, “Excellent. We haven’t been out to dinner in ages. It will be interesting with you tiny.”
“Yeah,” he said, feeling a sense of dread. That was going to be an awkward experience, he was sure.
When the visit was over, they filed into the travel case, and took their seats. The courier arrived shortly afterwards. It was a quiet ride home, they were worn out from talking and visiting all day. They’d seen so many relatives, all now giant sized. And all ogled them from above.


Chapter Six

Trina looked at Hugh, taking in the sight of him, up close and the same size she was. She reminded herself that he hadn’t grown, she was now as small as he was. Behind her, her travel box sat like a small house, or a capsule that had landed on a foreign planet. The grain of the wooden tabletop at her feet looked strange, and the living room walls and ceiling were very distant. Hugh watched her looking around and taking it all in. “Is this your first excursion since miniaturizing?” he asked.
“No,” she said, “It’s only been a few weeks, and I haven’t left the community before a few days ago. I visited my extended family, and my friend, and sat in her hand. Which was…strange.”
He laughed, “You’ll get used to it. It’s important that people like us leave the safety of the habitat from time to time. We need to remember what we really are.”
“Yeah, I was beginning to feel normal there,” Trina said, “I can’t have that now, can I?”
“You can feel normal,” he said, “It’s just that normal for you and me is really, really small.”
“They say it will take time,” she said, “But I intend to be out and about as much as I can.”
“So, are you ready to go?” Hugh asked, “I can call my sister down to come get us.” He had invited her to lunch, with his sister taken them. Feeling adventurous, she’d agreed. She’d be out in public.
He went to the slab that was his phone, and brushed his hands on the screen, sending a message. Not long after, Marina came into the room. The girl was now the height of a skyscraper. She bent down over them, her face hanging above them. Her lips turned into a smile.
“Hi Trina! It’s so nice seeing you so small.”
“It’s nice to be small,” she said, “Finally after all that waiting, now I feel like myself.” Not true, but it likely made Trina feel better. It’s what Hugh said, but he really did feel more like himself while small.
“Do you want to go in her travel case, or my purse?”
“Your purse?” Trina asked in surprise, looking from her to Hugh, who shrugged.
“It’s not a bad way to travel,” he said.
“You really sit in her purse and let her carry you around like that? Like a…thing? What about dignity?”
“The travel case has more dignity,” he admitted, “but after a while it just seems silly. Doing extra for no reason. There’s nothing undignified about being tiny, and tiny people travel however they wish. Nothing wrong with being in pockets, bags or purses.”
She stood there a moment, looking from her comfortable box then to the purse hung at the giant’s side.
“Whatever,” she said, “A purse it is.” She was here to be adventurous, after all.
Hugh yelled up to Marina, “We’ll travel in style.” The bag was set down with a plop, and fell onto it’s side. Hugh walked up to it, and lifted one edge of the opening over his head. Trina followed, walking into the dark interior. It smelled in here, with a myriad of smells. Suddenly, the bag shook, and shifted as it righted up, and she was tossed onto the pile of knick knacks. She yelled. Hugh laughed, then apologized. The mass of junk under them shifted as the bag was lifted into the air. She found a solid spot near the end, against the soft fabric wall, and got comfortable. As odd as it felt to be in here, Hugh lightened the mood with some jokes. She soon was joking back. Anything to distract her.
After the ride in the purse, they emerged onto the table of the restaurant. Marina loomed over them, sitting now with her abdomen even with them. In front of her on a paper plate sat her sandwich, which she’d ordered while they waited in the handbag. The aroma was overwhelming.
“That smells so good,” Trina said. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was.
“You two better get some,” Marina said, “Before I eat it all.”
“What does she mean?” Trina asked.
“You don’t think they’d made tiny sandwiches for us, do you?” Hugh said.
“I thought we’d pack and bring our own. Or you would, since you said you’d provide lunch.”
“You’ve been at the habitat too long,” Hugh said, “They make everything sized for you, to seem as normal as possible. Out here, we don’t care about those kinds of illusions.”
“What do you mean? What are we supposed to eat?” she asked in annoyance.
“We eat the same sandwich she does. We just eat off hers,” Hugh explained.
“You mean like mice or something?”
“Mice don’t usually have permission,” he said, walking toward the plate, and stepping up onto it. She followed, stepping on the paper and standing next to the mattress sized food. It was stacked with a layer of meat, lettuce and the outside of a tomato was visible. She looked up at Marina, who watched in a disinterested way, clearly wanting to eat. Hugh reached in and pulled off chunks of meat, bread and anything else he wanted, like a buffet. He smashed it together, having a sandwich of his own. He stepped away, saying, “Hurry up, or she’ll just grab it and eat it all.”
Trina pulled off what she wanted, feeling odd about it. Then she mashed it between her hands, making a messy meal of her own. She’d added a glop of sauce to hers, which covered her hand now. The pair stepped away and off the plate, and a hand reached down and grabbed the sandwich. It returned with a large bite off it. Hugh sat down on the plastic table top, and she sat next to him. They ate like normal, with the giant eating her own wordlessly. She didn’t look at them, instead looking around the restaurant as if they weren’t there. It was busy, but they’d gotten a table in the corner, with no curious eyes to accidentally spot them. It felt nice, Trina found, her food was good and seemed somewhat normal. Marina did reach an arm past them, and picked up a cup and drank, and set it back down with a thud. She could hear the cola fizzling. “This is so weird,” she remarked.
“It is,” he said, “But this is how it’s going to be for the rest of your life. It’ll seem normal at some point.”
“That’s the life of being tiny,” she said, “and as everyone says, I’ll get used to it.”
He asked her opinions of the community, and they talked about that for most of lunch. Marina’s eyes went to them, watching, their high pitched voices reaching her ears, but she was silent, letting them talk. She ate slowly, chewing the lump of food that bulged from her cheek. But Trina tried not to look at the giant girl, who she’d known as a regular sized classmate. Now she was huge.
After a lull in their conversation, Trina stood up. I need to stretch my legs,” she said. She walked around on the table top, going to the salt and pepper shakers in the middle. Through the thick glass, the salt granules were like gravel. And the pepper was like rocks. A sign reached above her head, a paper held up to advertise for the restaurant. But to her it was like a billboard. She stepped away, walking back toward Hugh. Marina watched her. “Weird, isn’t it?” the big girl said.
“It’s very weird,” she said.
“What?” Marina said, “Sorry, I didn’t catch that.”
“You have to yell some,” Hugh said.
“Oh,” Trina said, then she spoke loudly, “Yes, it’s very weird seeing things so big.”
“Are you adjusting well?” Marina asked, “And is the rest of your family?”
“We’re adjusting well,” Trina said, walking to the space just in front of her, between her shirt and the plate. “My family is trying going out into the world, and visiting friends. We’re adjusting to it, I think.”
“Good,” Marina said, “Hugh is doing well with it. I was hoping you’d do well too.” With that, she tossed the last of the sandwich into her mouth. Hugh joined Trina, in the shadow of his sister.
“So it’s back into the purse now, isn’t it?” she asked.
“Yep,” he said, “Marina will give us a few minutes though. We can walk around the table some.”
Soon after, they were back in the purse, being taken out of the place and back to the house. Trina had to admit, even though it was quite an uneventful lunch, it definitely had been an adventure.


Chapter Seven

Once again, the diminutive family found themselves under the gaze of skyscraper sized people. George’s sister Penelope and her family looked down at them in amusement as they scrunched together at the table, and the four minis stood casually in front of them as if it was completely normal.
“So are you ready for tonight?” Penelope asked, “You two get to go out in public, an excursion out into the big world. With big people like me everywhere.”
“We’ll see how it goes,” George said up to his towering sister, “Hopefully Evelyn and I won’t be too uncomfortable. We may have to cut the night short if it gets too awkward.”
“I understand if you do, and it will be alright,” the massive woman said, her curtain of blonde hair brushing her shoulders with a whoosh as she moved her head. Her husband nodded in agreement. Their son and daughter looked from their parents, to the family, following the conversation.
“Seth, Jane, will you two be able to take care of Cal and Trina?” The boy and girl nodded. “Do what they ask and get them whatever they need. They may be small, but they’re practically grownups.”
The siblings nodded again, saying they understood. They looked at their tiny cousins in anticipation.
“Then we should start to get going,” the big woman said. The time for talk was over.
The travel case came with a smaller compartment, called a cube, which was able to be detached and made for light traveling. It had seats, a toilet, and supplies, and fit in a big person’s hand. And also fit easily in a purse, which is where George and Evelyn were. They were unaware of where Penelope was carrying them, but they felt the motion of her walking. It was a tight fit, but good for short distances.
“It’s better than being loose in her purse,” Evelyn stated.
“Who knows what would fall on us,” George said. “All sorts of things,” Evelyn added.
When the cube was set down, they unstrapped and opened the hatch, then stepped out. They were on a table at a nice restaurant. The table was polished wood, the grain running in streaks at their feet. They looked up at Penelope and Clark, who smiled down at them.
“Nice to see you two made it,” Penelope said, “I’ve never carried two full grown humans before.”
“We’re not really full grown at this point,” Evelyn said to her sister in law.
A waitress came by, and handed out menus, not noticing the two tiny people in front of her. They did not hide, they simply stood there out in the open, but the girl never looked at them.
“She’s probably never seen a mini,” Evelyn said quietly to George, as the teenager loomed over them.
He nodded, saying, “I don’t think it’s a good idea to distract her by her seeing us. She might get scared.”
“Yes,” Evelyn agreed, “But I don’t want to hide myself away. We’re people, not mice.”
“We won’t hide,” he said, as the girl turned and walked away, “We’ll just stay still and try not to distract her. Especially when she’s carrying food.” Unfortunately, there was no etiquette on minis out in public.
They both walked across the menus, as their bigger counterparts read the words under their feet. Since they would be taking food from them, they all had to agree on what to order. Each would share from one of the larger people, and they soon decided on what they wanted. So they talked up to them, then sat in the middle of the table to address each of the towering people. Fortunately, they were kept in the conversation, and the other couple didn’t talk over them, talking directly to them instead. And once again the waitress didn’t notice them. So they talked as they waited for their food. A neighboring table or passer-by would have noted the odd conversation Penelope and her husband seemed to be having, talking low and responding and asking as if they were in two separate conversations.
When the waitress approached with the food, the little couple went into the cube, they didn’t want to surprise her while she was carrying so much. Once she was gone, and the meals delivered, they took a folding table out of the travel cube, and set it up with chairs in the middle of the table. They had plates and utensils as well, everything needed for a mini dinner. The little table with the little couple sat on the larger table, with the big sized couple on either side. Penelope and her husband cut off small bits of each item, and George and Evelyn collected what they wanted on their own plates. Then they sat at their own table, ignoring the clanking and scraping of giant utensils against the giant porcelain.
Back at the house, Jane and Seth prepared their own meals in the microwave. They brought them to the kitchen table, where Cal and Trina stood, waiting. The little pair didn’t bother with their own plates or utensils, “We’ll eat like cavemen,” Trina declared. So the large youngsters set their plastic trays of food on the table and sat down, heat emanating and steam billowing from them.
When the food had cooled, Cal and Trina approached their cousins, who had already dug in. Trina went to Jane, walking past the silo sized drink cup, and stood next to the tray. Jane eyed her as she stuck a fork with a pile of food into her mouth. She stuck the fork back in lightly, getting a clump on one of the prongs. She held it out to Trina, who pulled the handful of food off the prong, and used her fingers to eat it from her hand. When her hands were empty, the fork return, prong coated with food. Trina took her fill, thanking her towering twelve year old cousin for each helping.
Next to them, Seth ate, with Cal standing on the edge of his tray. He reached in and pulled out a chunk of food. It was all mixed together, and even at his size it was hard to tell things apart. Seth reached his finger in toward the middle, and pulled out a chunk, and held it in front of Cal. Cal took it from between the fingers, munching on whatever it was.
“You’re so tiny,” Seth said, swallowing, “I’m surprised you eat at all.”
“We have big appetites,” Cal said.
“So, how do you feel, being so small now,” the fourteen year old asked his diminutive cousin.
Cal shrugged, “No different. My surroundings are different, but I’ll get used to it.”
“That’s a lot to get used to. You’re smaller than a typical wiener.”
Cal laughed, “I’ve seen a few since I’ve moved to the community, some people like to go around without clothes more often. And all the wieners are smaller than people.”
“Weird,” Seth said, “And you’re like this forever, right?”
“Yes,” Cal said, “It’s for good.” He didn’t mention what they’d been told after the shrinking process, that it was reversible. And granted in rare cases. But that was supposed to remain a well-guarded secret.
George stood next to the plate, talking up to his sister. It seemed to be a normal conversation, which meant Penelope was getting used to him being small. Which was good, he wanted everyone to be able to adapt. His family was adapting, so everyone around them needed to as well. Penelope reached down to her lap, and plumped down on the table a bunched up napkin. “I need to use the ladies room,” she said. She looked across the table, at Evelyn who was in front of her husband’s plate. The smaller woman said, “I have my own at the table here, in the cube.” Penelope nodded.
She stood up, the fabric of her dress suddenly rising, flowing past the edge of the table as Penelope rose to a dizzying height. George watched as the yards and yards of fabric slid past. Penelope turned, her buttocks pressing against the table, the fabric making a brushing noise against the table top’s edge, and lurched away as she walked. George had been caught off guard with the reminder of her size. He’d only been seeing her head, shoulders and chest since they’d gotten here. Which was big enough. But the rest of her…. His sister really was the size of a skyscraper now.

The four cousins watched a movie. It was more for people the younger kids’ age, but Cal and Trina were content. Their bellies were full, and they were done having to talk. They sat on Jane’s leg, as the giant girl sat next to her more fidgety brother. The large shape moving so much nearby was distracting, but they forced themselves to focus on the TV screen across the room. It was a large screen, but distant, but they could see well enough. It was like a stadium jumbo-screen, if they were in the back rows. In front of them, the leg and knee reached out toward it, like a pier out into nothingness. The other leg sat next to it, with a pace apart, leaving a narrow crevice down to the couch cushion.
The leg jarred occasionally from under them, and they had to brace themselves, or grab each other to keep from falling, and they’d look up at the face in annoyance. Her massive head was atop the sheer cliff of a stomach and chest, on wide shoulders. If she didn’t look down, they’d yell, which Jane would hear as a squeak. Her eyes would dart down at them, and she’d say “Sorry.” But the jarring almost stopped after a few occurrences, though they could feel the tension of restlessness in the leg muscles below them at times. Her hands and arms moved on either side of them as well, sometimes going above them to scratch somewhere. When all was still, they looked out past the fabric of the pants, past the knee and the drop off, across the empty space of the room to the TV screen. And they could lose themselves in the movie, forgetting about the awkwardness of their current situation.
The waitress did spot them. They stood next to the glass column of a wine glass when the teenage girl came by to ask if they needed anything, and Evelyn turning her body and looking up caught her attention. The towering girl’s eyes went wide, and she gasped. Penelope and her husband laughed quietly. “Oh my….little people!” the girl stammered, losing her poise with shock on her face.
“Yes,” Penelope said, “We’ve had minis dining with us tonight.”
“They were here the whole time?” the girl said, not taking her eyes off George and Evelyn.
“They were,” Penelope said, “But they were good at staying out of sight. She reached out her arm, and took the wine glass in her fingers, and raised it up. The glass bottom swooping past them, causing a rushing of air, and a whoosh noise. She set it down with a thunk.
“Wow,” the waitress said, staring in awe.
“Do you not see many minis in here?” George asked up to her.
“No. I’ve never seen one. Some come in from time to time, I hear, but we’re not allowed to mention it to each other, not while the person is still there. They don’t want us gawking. Someone just says afterward that there was a tiny there. Usually at the end of the day.”
“Well, we appreciate that,” Evelyn said, “And we use the term ‘mini’, not ‘tiny’.”
“Mini is the official term,” Penelope explained, “The Company that shrinks them uses that term.”
“Oh, I see,” the girl said. Then her face changed, and she quickly looked around. “I need to get back to work. As I said, we’re not allowed to gawk.”
“It’s alright,” George said, “It’s your first time seeing one of us.”
“It will happen more often as time goes on,” Evelyn said, “As more and more of us are miniaturized.”
The girl stepped away, resuming her duties, and they laughed about the encounter. She was pleasant the next time she came by the table, the massive girl looking down at them with a smile, and talking to them as if they were normal sized. She reached down with her huge thin hands and grabbed things off the table, lifting them away with a whoosh. And clearly resisting the urge to look more at them.
When the night was over, and their food was gone and paid for, the pair stepped into their chamber again, and got secure and comfortable. They talked about what a nice night it had been, as they were carried out of the building. Soon, they would be reunited with their children, and on their way home. It had been an interesting night, and fun, as they ventured back into the real world.


To be continued in Part 2…