Shrunk In Translation

Shrunk In Translation, Part One

I dove from the small crack in the building and dashed to the curb. I scurried across the alley as fast as I could scamper, dodging the busses and cars as they raced crazily back and forth up, up and down the busy side street all day and night long. This was my entire world. My original goal of finding help at the US Embassy was long replaced by the daily hunger of survival. Every day at around 5 AM the back door of the tiny restaurant would open up and a stout fiftyish woman would empty the garbage into a large container outside the door. Some of the scraps of food would always fall on the ground next to container. I was on it like a fly on shit. There was competition. There were several neighborhood cats that I had successfully managed to avoid and what the cats didn’t get the rats and cockroaches would.

I was in luck today. I saw some scraps of lettuce and carrots and what looked like zucchini lying on the ground. I made a break for it as a bus roared over the top of me. I was so small I could just stand in the street and let cars roll overhead. Bicycles were harder to avoid since I had to move either left or right. The last few yards to the curb were relatively easy. There were only a few pedestrians out this early in the morning but it wasn’t them I was worried about. The Rats seemed to instinctively know when the trash was put out, and I always had to look out for them. Even worse, the cats new when the rats came around for the food so that some days when I didn’t get there fast enough I was confronted with a bloody mess of ran entrails and blood, being worked over by the cockroaches.

But today I was lucky. There was iceberg lettuce, some cold ramen noodles, udon and carrot. I grabbed my makeshift blade and quickly began cutting the food into small chunks which I then thrust into the large hand made pouch, like a newspaper boy would have, that I had made from some string and the fingertip of an old glove. It was slow going: the carrot was still crisp and thus difficult to saw through. I managed to square off the udon and lettuce and bundled them up, then put a foot long section of noodle on top of the veggies in the pouch. When I reached the safety of my hiding place in the walls of the printing shop across the alley I would cook it up into a meager but nourishing stew. I tried not to think about the fact that this had been on some stranger’s plate the night before. To myself, this was a veritable feast, and I was just happy to get my fill before the other neighborhood critters showed up. When I felt I had stuffed away enough for two or three days I then stuffed some more down the front of my shirt. I knew it was best to get while the getting’s good since I had to forage for everything now. Even as bad as things were, at least I war a free man. Though I was in a foreign land, unable to communicate and smaller than a Barbie doll at least I was free to go as I please, do as I wished and life off the lay of the land. How long had I been living here in the City? It had to be at least two months, ever since I had escaped from Tomiko.

--TWO MONTHS EARLIER--

I had come to Japan as a representative of a large U.S. defense contractor visiting one of our subsidiaries. My job was to inspect the remote facilities and to retrieve sensitive documents it was judged not safe to transmit via electronic communication or the internet. Once a year I was dispatched to the Far East to visit the branch offices. It was always the same; the remote employees, knowing I was from the home office took great pains to give me the cook’s tour of their facilities so that I may give a favorable visual report of their activities upon my return. I was on the final leg of a 2-month trip that took me to most of the largest Asian cities: Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei, Manila, Saigon, Seoul, and finally Tokyo before home to Dallas. It had been a grueling trip and I had been eager to get back home to my own house and bed. I wasted no time getting off the plane and immediately into a taxi right to the where the branch offices were located, in an industrial parkway on the outskirts of Tokyo

“Ah Mr. Thomas-san how good to see you again.”

“Greetings Dr. Suzuki, I am pleased to be back.”

“It is always good to see you again Mr. Thomas. I trust you will find this visit acceptable. Would you like to inspect the facilities right away?”

“Yes that would be fine. I’d like to look at the facilities and then we can spend tomorrow going over the budget numbers. The CEO is concerned about the sharp increase of operating costs of this facility this past year. I am sure you will be able to provide me with details Dr. Suzuki.”

“Yes of course, as you will see it is money well spent. Come with me Mr. Thomas.”

Dr Suzuki led me into the facility. He showed his ID pass to the security guard who waved us in.

The tour went pretty uneventfully for me as I recall, the facility was mostly dedicated to electroplating electronic components with various alloys which were used for stealth technology. It was classified technology that required special security clearance to work with. All the people working at this facility had it. I was pretty tired by the time Dr. Suzuki had wrapped up the inspection arranged for me. It was nightfall now, and I was anxious to get to his hotel room and bed. I was hungry and jet lag from the flight from Seoul had really gotten to me Dr. Suzuki noticed my fatigue as w walked from the plant floor to the front offices.

“Dr. Suzuki, could you please call a taxi for me? I am tired and would like to get dinner and rest.”

“Mr. Thomas would you honor me by being my guest and dining at my family’s house?”

Actually I just wanted to go to the hotel, but I knew from protocol it would be rude to refuse. So I resigned myself to a quiet evening of being entertained by Dr. Suzuki at his home. I figured it would be pretty boring.

Dr. Suzuki lived not in Tokyo but in a small house in an affluent suburb. In a nation where everybody is always packed together I was surprised there were still open spaces at all. His house was a one story traditional looking house but I noticed right away the stuff on top of the flat roof. It looked like scientific equipment. We parked the car and headed to the door. Dr Suzuki was immediately greeted by his wife, a small petite woman in her thirties, and a young female of teen age that must have been his daughter.

“Mr. Thomas I would like to meet my wife Midori, and my daughter Tomiko.” Both women looked at me and smiled as they bowed. I bowed back, and then followed them inside. It was obvious that neither of them spoke a word of English.

I was surprised that inside the house it was completely western in design and furniture. I had seen too many movies and expected rooms with paper screens and tatami mats but instead there were recliner chairs and couches and thick wall-to-wall carpeting. In the back of the house was a garden with a carp filled koi pond, a bridge across which led to a small island and teahouse. On the side of the house was an ugly corrugated steel stairway that led to the roof. On the roof was a shack that Dr. Suzuki motioned me toward. It seemed strangely out of place with its surroundings.

“Come here, I must show you, very important.”

Looking off the rooftop one could see antenna and rooftops of nearby residential and commercial buildings. I walked into the shack expecting to find a lawnmower or something, but instead were banks of computer and terminals packed into the confines of this tiny space. Dr. Suzuki stepped to the rear and pulled out what looked like a grenade launcher.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“For the past five years I have been working on a molecular compression device that will reduce objects to one tenth their original mass. I have perfected it to the point where I am confident that it can have viable implications in the military-industrial sector. Mr. Thomas I wonder if you would please step outside with me. “

I followed as he carried the grenade launcher out onto the roof. I followed him puzzled by what he was talking about. He directed me to watch the teahouse on the island in the middle of the koi pond. He raised the device onto his shoulder and switched it on. I loud whine pierced my brain as I yelled at Dr. Suzuki that it was totally unnecessary to blow up his teahouse. He laughed and pulled the trigger. In a split second the teahouse was gone. It was as if it vanished into thin air. I couldn’t believe it. Where was it? And then I saw it. It was right where it had always been, on the island. I couldn’t see it very clearly because it was now only a fraction of the size it had been. I looked back at Dr. Suzuki as he lowered the device.

I can’t believe it! Suzuki you’re a genius!” I hugged him. “We’ll make a fortune; the company will have its biggest profits ever! I’ll get the executive of the year! A huge bonus! My own secretary! How soon can you come to America to demonstrate to the corporation?”

“Actually Mr. Thomas this is not the corporations. You see I built this on my own time, here in my house and I funded this myself. If the company would wish to bid for the rights to my invention I would be honored to consider-“

“Wait a minute, you work for us. It’s a matter of company policy. Anything you invent we have the right of first refusal and there is no way the company is gonna refuse this. Sorry Doc, but if you had planned on getting rich you will just have to make do with your company salar-“

That was the last thing I ever said as a normal person. At first I didn’t really notice anything, except my vision seemed blurry. Things seemed far away and indistinct. It felt like I had been under a barbecue for two hours. My clothing was rumpled and tattered and in a second my shirt and pants were on the ground. I still had on my boxers thankfully but that was it. There was this weird electrical smell around me. I looked for Suzuki but instead only saw two pillars rising out of a of sea tarpaper. I looked up, up and saw, bending over me, the towering form of Dr Suzuki.

“What the fuck did you do to me? Change me back! Change me back right now! You are so fired do you hear me? When the home office hears about this they’ll fire you immediately.”

“I am very sorry Mr. Thomas. I cannot allow you to steal my device…all I have worked for these long years…my device…it is mine I am going to sell it and I cannot allow you to stop me. Forgive me; I must do what I must for my family…”

His voice trailed off as he lifted his foot over me. I screamed as I knew I was in the final seconds of my life. I a heartbeat the sole of his shoe would come down on top of me, spreading me into a paste of pulp and bones in the grass. This was to be my end, the punishment for my momentary greed. I screamed in terror as suddenly I felt a force press around my middle. The ground flew away from my feet and my legs dangled helplessly in mid air. I started kicking and screaming. I tried to move my arms but they were pinned helplessly at their sides. I howled in pain as I was trapped in a vice like grip from my shoulders to past my knees. My bones creaked from the pressure as I was hoisted up, up and into the dark eyes of Dr. Suzuki’s teenaged daughter Tomiko.

“Whoaaaaaaaaaaah!”

“アドレス] バーに入力したペー!”

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagggggghhhh! Put me down dammit what is going on here! Suzuki please tell her to put me down helllllllllp!”

“ページが見つかりません!”

“のページは”

“されたか”

“ドレスの綴りが正しいかどうかを確認してください”

I was hugged against this girl’s breast as the two giants started arguing back and forth. I couldn’t understand a thing they were saying, but it seemed that the girl was protesting her father’s treatment of me. I didn’t know what to say as I was completely shaken by my experience. In the space of five minutes I had been reduced to the size a small doll, almost stomped flat by a shoe, and now a seventeen-year-old Japanese schoolgirl was crushing me against her bosom. The argument got more and more heated, and the more heated it got the tighter she squeezed me into her. Finally she put me down on the rooftop. I could barely breathe as I tried to regain my wind. I looked back to see Dr. Suzuki throw his arms up in defeat and then say to me in English.

“Mr. Thomas-san you are lucky it seems my daughter has taken a liking to you so if you would do me the honor she has insisted you remain alive as a guest – for the time being. I suggest you do not give her any trouble, or I will finish what I had started earlier.” Then he turned to Tomiko.

“を開いて、必要な情報へのリンクを探してください”

“をクリックしてください”

Once again I heard the two giants overhead discussing my life like I wasn’t even here. I stared up at Suzuki’s daughter; she had on a white t-shirt and jeans and her long brown hair flowed in the wind that whipped over the rooftop. She looked down and smiled at me as she leaned back against the rooftop HVAC unit.

Then Dr. Suzuki stomped closer to me. In fear I jumped onto Tomiko’s shin, cowering in fear and hanging onto her jeans for dear life. I heard her giggle slightly then say something as she plucked me off her shin. Then my teenaged captor started moving. I thought I would be seasick as she rocked back and forth as I was carried down off the roof and into the house. The walls and rooms of the house flew by as she hurried through the house. She headed straight for her bedroom and as soon as she reached it she locked her door and walked over to the bed and set me down on it.

リンクを探してください

She spoke down to me, and then walked across the room to her desk. From the looks of things she was rummaging through her drawers for something. I watched her clench something in her fist and then get up and walk over to the bed. Her weight on the bed caused me to shift and almost fall over. I saw her hand come down and open up overhead. I saw what looked like a T-shirt. I saw her smile and I knew she wanted me to put it on. I was cold so I did put it on. It fit surprisingly well considering. My captor sat on the bed and studied me as I stood there at her side. She took her hand and pointed at herself.

“Tomiko.” I heard her announce. She pointed at me and said, “Thomas-san?”

I nodded. Then she lay back down on the bed. I had to run away to avoid being crushed by her back. Her hand deftly came down to pluck me off the bed. I dangled upside down as she inspected me in front of her face. My arms waved wildly about as she giggled at my helplessness.

“になるかも！！”

“Put me down goddamit. I demand that you notify the US Embassy at once unless you want an international incident!”

“はよく読んでね?”

I screamed bloody murder as she swung me back and fourth by my ankles. She blew on me and her breath caused me to swing back as if I were holding onto a telephone pole in a hurricane. All I could do was plead with my life and beg to be let go but she only moved me over her stomach and dropped me. I landed with a splat on her soft stomach, her body warmth heating up the soft cloth of her shit. I tried to get up but her hand immediately came down to trap me. With her other hand I heard her pick up her cell phone and press the speed dial.

“まなちゃん」やります。ルィーズちゃんは壮大で、今のあたしには難しいです・イヒヒヒヒ。ゲームブックにする予定ですので、アイディア募集！かやるんですか”

I shuddered as I realized that the conversation she was having was probably about me. I didn’t know what this gigantic Asian teen had in store for me but I really wanted to try and get back to normal. I don’t know if that was even possible but I knew that somehow I had to try. I didn’t want to stick around in case Suzuki decided to have a change of heart and deprive his daughter of her newest prize. Tomiko’s fingers curled around me as they lifted me off her warm stomach. My tiny legs kicked in the air as she rose up off the bed. We walked across the room toward her dresser. She raised me up to her lips and gave me a kiss before setting me back down.

“しつこいね!”

“Hey no wait!”

Tomiko smiled back at me before closing the door behind her. I heard the click of the lock and new there was no way I could get out without her help. I walked to the edge of her dresser and looked down. It was like being on the roof of an office building. I couldn’t believe how small I was. I was a prisoner. I was about to draw back from the edge when I noticed that the top drawer was open a crack. I peered over to get a closer look to see what was in but I lost my balance. I screamed as I tumbled down to certain death. Just as I passed the lip of the open drawer my hands latched onto the top of it. I slammed against the side as I clung for dear life to the drawer. I managed to pull myself up and over the lip of the drawer, and immediately tumbled down into darkness but I only fell a few feet before I landed on something soft. I looked down to see a swath of white cotton material. Looking around my surroundings I was in a field strewn with panties and sofa sized bra cups. In fascination I began exploring in earnest. I spent the next hour lying in Tomiko’s various undergarments, resting my head on her bra cup as if it were a pillow. Finally I gave into my soft surroundings and started getting sleepy. I lie down in one of Tomiko’s sport bras and pulled a pair of white panties over me like a blanket. I was exhausted from my physical ordeal and fell asleep immediately.

I awoke several hours later to the sound of the door slamming shut, then heavy footsteps on the floor and the voice of Tomiko and another female I did not recognize. I bolted out of the bra and threw the panties off me. I dashed to the front of the drawer but I was too short to see over the top, so I started jumping up and down and shouting as loud as I could, my head rising above the lip of the drawer just in time to see the back of Tomiko and another female. I thought she had seen me as her hand extended toward the drawer. I wanted out of here now. But my hopes were dashed as the hand pushed against the front of the drawer and slipped it back into the dresser, leaving me in darkness. I was humiliated that this girl had trapped me in her dresser without even knowing it.

I could hear Tomiko talking excitedly as she and her friend conversed. I cringed as I was able to pick out my name among the unintelligible Japanese words. I gathered she was only too eager to show me off to her friend. I know she expected to find me on the dresser top and had no idea where I was. I could hear her calling my name out as if I were a dog or cat she was calling in from the rain. I could hear her friend laughing at Tomiko as she searched the room for me. Running as fast as I could I threw myself up against the front of the drawer but all I did was succeed in bruising my shoulder as I bounced back against and fell down.

Outside the drawer I could hear both girls talking and moving around the room as if they were looking for something. I sighed and slumped back down against the front of the drawer. It looked like I was going to be trapped here for a while. The girls were watching television and gossiping until I heard the friend ask Tomiko a question. Then I heard footsteps getting closer and closer to the dresser. Suddenly the drawer was pulled open and an arm shot in over my head and into the drawer. I watched it land in front of me and grab a bra and yank it out before I could even blink. I saw Tomiko’s arm and face draw away from the drawer as I yelled up in vain. She moved away from the dresser over to the bed where the girls were sitting watching TV. I could take it no longer. I threw myself over the top of the drawer like a marine going over the obstacles at Paris Island. Better to die a free man than live a slave. I watched the floor get closer and closer and as my life ticked away, the floor rushing up to splatter my flesh.

To my surprise I didn’t die at all. It turned out that my reduced mass enabled me to fall without harming me even though comparatively it should have been a fatal height. I landed on the floor undetected as they watched the television. I looked at the door, but it was shut. I was still trapped in this girl’s gigantic bedroom with no way out. I scurried under the dresser to think.

As I was thinking I was the girls shut off the TV and get off the bed. I watched as the door quickly opened and shut. I breathed a sigh of relief as I was alone for a while. I cautiously moved out from under the dresser and over to the wall, following the baseboard.

“！えっち”

I stared upward to see the towering figure of Tomiko; she was looking down at me with an angry expression. She bent over, far over, her fingers stretching out toward me as she chided me. I knew she was angry and that pleading my case would do me absolutely no good but I tried anyway.

“Tomiko please I wasn’t trying to get away I swear it! I fell in the drawer and couldn’t get out so I fell asleep and you came home with your friend and you closed the drawer and then opened it up and I fell out and you can’t understand a thing I’m saying can you?”

Her fingers curled around me and gripped me tight, squeezing my breath away as I was lifted higher and higher in the air. She held me in front of her face and shook her finger menacingly at me. I watched the floor get closer and closer as she sat down, her back against the wall. I was set down on her knee. She looked down at me with contempt as I raised my arms up and pleaded with her to let me go.

“Tomiko please I am not a toy I am an American citizen and you will take me to the embassy at once do you hear me I will not make this request again. I am not some damn doll for your amusement I don’t care what you say. I am a free citizen and you will treat me like-mmmmmmppppffffft!”

The next think I knew Tomiko snatched me up off her knee I rose up to her lips, which smacked the air in front of me several times before she thrust me against her. She then got up and carried me over to her bed. She began removing my shirt as I protested profusely.

“Hey lemme have that back! I can undress myself dammit!”

“あたしゃあ、しがない!”

Tomiko then pulled the shirt off my back and let it fall to the bed. She got my shorts and underwear off next until I was naked. She giggled as she stared at me. I blushed at being stripped. She then tossed me onto the bed. I screamed as I slammed against a down pillow and came to a soft stop on the mattress. Tomiko giggled and then began removing her clothes. I gulped at this lovely young woman was soon completely nude in my presence.

She grabbed me and turned the lights off, threw back the covers and got into bed. I was settled in between her breasts as she pulled the covers up over me. It was hot and stuffy but she smelled nice and her skin was silky smooth. I cuddled against it for warmth. Tomiko noticed my squirming and giggled. I was pulled away and hoisted to her lips for a kiss. She kissed me then lowered me down over her breast. I felt her hand at my back as I was crushed into her breast, kneaded against her like a lump of play-doh.

My head smashed against her erect nipple as she crushed me against her. I could hear her purr with pleasure as she played with me. She let up the pressure and I slid down to her stomach. I rose up and down on her stomach as he giggled in the darkness. I then felt her clutch seize me around the middle and toss me straight up into the air. I flew end over end in the darkness and had I been able to see I would have passed out easily. I slammed against her stomach with a splat, and her stomach then rumbled up and down violently like an earthquake as she laughed at me. I was grabbed again and flipped up in the air again, this time backwards end over end. I ended up missing her stomach altogether and hitting the side of her breast and falling to the mattress. I got up and tried scurrying down the bed next to her legs but her thigh came down on me to trap me against the bed. Her fingers slipped under her thigh and I was carried up to her chest again. This time she crossed her arms over my body between her breasts as she hugged me like her favorite teddy bear and turned on her side. I was plastered unmovable against her chest as we fell asleep. I awoke the next morning among the folds of Tomiko’s bed sheets.

I looked around but I was alone. I walked over to the edge of the bed and looked down. It was far too down to get off myself. I sighed as I would have to wait for Tomiko to come back. I suppose she wasn’t being cruel to me but I resented being treated like a toy. I was picked up and carried with almost no thought or consideration. The only saving grace was that she was pretty hot.

Even though it had only been a day since I had shrunk it felt more like a year. I had felt and seen so many sights in the space of less than 24 hours. I was determined to regain my size or die trying. I didn’t care if Dr. Suzuki caught me trying to break into his equipment, what did I have to live for anyway? I was nothing but a mere toy to his daughter. No telling what she would do to me after last night.

And then I feared all the people, now giants, she might expose me to. I figured Dr. Suzuki had forbade her to show me to anyone buy already someone had been over to see me and it was only dumb luck that I avoided their scrutiny.

Spotting my discarded clothes I slipped my boxer shorts on so that I wasn’t completely naked. I didn’t feel like putting on the shirt or my shorts yet. The door opened up and Tomiko walked in, carrying a small bowl of steaming hot water. I watched her walk over to the bed and sit down next to it and set the bowl on the floor near the bed.

She scooped me up and sat down on the floor, her back against the corner. I protested again but she suddenly flipped me upside down. I watched the bowl get closer and closer, and then the water was all around me as she dunked me in, not even bothering to remove my boxer shorts. I was squirted with some scented material and her hands began rubbing liquid soap all over me. I slipped back and forth against her palms as she lathered me up, then dunked me in the water, rinsing off the soap. I coughed and gagged as my head was held under water, then I was lifted up again upside down, the water dripping down by body over my face and hair. All of a sudden Tomiko let go of me. I shouted in fear as I fell into the bowl, spilling water everywhere.

“りるときは!”

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Splash. I looked up at Tomiko who smiled devilishly and plucked me out of the water again. This time she flipped me up by one ankle as I did a triple gainer on the way down. I did a tremendous belly flop into the bowl and was almost knocked unconscious. I feared I would drown but I was finally scooped out of the water by Tomiko and set on a towel she had in front of her. She set me down in the center and I watched as the corners lifted up to enclose me in terrycloth. I was rubbed gently, soaking up the water from my skin. She applied soft pressure for a few seconds and then lifted me to her lips and started blowing on me to finish drying me off. Her hot minty breath swirled around me as she blew me dry. When she finished she started petting me cuddling me against her shirt. Her long hair tangled with my limbs as she hugged me to her bosom. I felt us rise up as she stood and began walking toward the door. She grabbed her backpack and dropped me inside. I yelled up at her because I still had on only my boxers and they were damp but she only smiled as she zipped me in.

I was in a small compartment with mesh netting that allowed me to look out and also breathe fresh air. I had no idea where she was taking me. I heard her talking on her cell phone to someone and once again I cringed as my name was mentioned. We left the house and walked down to the corner of the street. Tomiko boarded a bus at the corner and stood with other morning commuters on the packed bus. After ten minutes the bus let out and we were in a huge busy train station. I cowered in fear as thousands and thousands of giants were milling about. Since I was in her backpack which was slung over her shoulder I could only look out and see where we had been, not where we were going. I realized with horror that she was headed into the Tokyo subway system, one of the most crowded in the world. I would be crushed in the packed subway car. I again panicked as she walked closer and closer to the train platform, but then turned and I saw the subway platform move away.

We passed under a doorway and were soon in a bright white tiled space, it was a public restroom. She entered one of the stalls and went to the bathroom while I remained in the backpack, hanging on the coat hook on the back of the stall door. I could hear everything as well as other women in the other stalls. I then heard the toilet flush and the backpack was lifted again. To my surprise my pocked was unzipped and I was taken out. Tomiko held me securely in her fist as she said something to me. She smiled at me and began lowering me not into the backpack but to her jacked front pocket I took it to mean she didn’t want me in the backpack when she took the subway she wanted me somewhere safe.

I could peek my head out of her front pocked as she went to exit the bathroom. As luck would have it, at that exact moment a woman came in through the door at the same time, slamming into Tomiko who fell to the floor. I rolled out of her pocket all the way down to her leg. I crawled over to her ankle on all fours as she sat up and looked at me. I knew she was about to grab me before I was spotted so I had to act fast.

I leapt off her leg onto the white tile floor. She began crawling across the bathroom floor as I began dodging the legs of the other women in the bathroom. I heard loud shrieking and feet stomping down all around me as they thought I was a mouse. I zig zaged through the maze of legs towards the door, which was closing slowly. Behind me Tomiko was crawling after me, gaining ground rapidly. I reached the door just as Tomiko’s hands were about to close in on me. Then the door swung back inward as a woman entered the bathroom, stepping over me but slamming Tomiko in the head with the door. She fell backwards in a heap as I raced out the door.

I started to do a little happy dance as I darted along the wall praying I wouldn’t be spotted. I knew it was impossible to get out of here during rush hour as the area was literally packed wall to wall with commuters. I could see the conductors pushing the people into the cars so that the doors would close. It was insane. I was on a subway in New York at rush hour but it was nothing like this. I had to get out of here before things got even worse.

I noticed a heating vent that had the grill knocked partly out. I crawled inside to hide from the mass of humanity. I shuddered at the thought of how insignificant I was now, a bug among big people. Then I realized how stupid I had been to try and leave Tomiko, I needed to be near Dr. Suzuki’s house to have any hope of restoring my size. I was screwed. I crawled along the heating duct far into the bowels of the subway station and sat down to think. The only possibility was to somehow try and make my way to the authorities and help they would be some help to me. But then I remembered I spoke no Japanese so I decided to find the American embassy. Surely they would help me and get this whole thing sorted out. I crawled around in the ducts for hours, looking for a way out. Finally in the distance I saw a light. I was in luck, the vent led to the street, and there was enough space in the grill for me to slip through. I waited until nightfall, and then headed out into the giant metropolis, scared and alone.

--ONE MONTH LATER--

A high-pitched squeal behind me made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. I turned around to face the beady eyes, twitching whiskers and long teeth of a black rat the size of a sheep. He was after my food, my treasure, my precious survival. I screamed and dug into my side belt for the broken off safety pin. I jabbed it in the rat’s direction. It squeaked and moved in towards me, determined to have fresh meat for his breakfast. I backed up against the garbage can as he moved closer, then he got down on his rear and hissed menacingly. I screamed like a baby as the rat lunged for me, meeting the tip of my safety pin with the end of his nose. The rat gave a high-pitched shriek, and then abruptly turned and dash off. It hadn’t gotten more than a few feet when the cat that had been waiting for me all along suddenly pounced out of the shadows. I seized the hapless rodent in its jaws and dashed away, the rat squealing in fear and terror.

I decided not to wait for the rat’s buddies to show up. I high tailed it out of there as fast as I could. I dashed across the alley and was headed straight for the small hole in the building that was my main entranceway when the back door to the printer shop opened up and Miss Watanabe came out. The young daughter of the older gentlemen who owned the shop was heading across the alley right for me. All these times I had eluded her, I was caught for sure. I decided to accept my fate and simply surrender in hopes she would not hurt me. Surely she had seen me in the alley by now. I looked up at her, the knee length white stockings and shiny black shoes clomping closer and closer to me, her long pale legs disappearing into the white skirt and blue blazer she wore for school. Even at my size I marveled at her slender waist and perky breasts which pushed out from her school uniform. I waved my tiny arms upward to get her attention as she towered impossibly over me. She wasn’t stopping; the heel of her shoe came down, its shadow falling over me as it descended rapidly. This was to be the ignominious end of my long strange odyssey in Japan…

End of Part One

Shrunk In Translation, Part Two

The shoe came down not on me, but right overhead and crashed to the ground ten feet above me. I looked overhead just in time to get a flash of white cotton panties from the giant girl as she walked across the street, oblivious of where I was. I watched her skirt flare out as her clomped up the alleyway into the main thoroughfare, a place I dare not venture into because there were literally swarms of giants every which way. I preferred the safety of the alleyway, even with the myriad of perils that befell me there.

I managed to finally scurry across the alleyway to my hideout. I hoisted myself up on to the curb and ran across the sidewalk and ducked into the hole in the wall, leading to the hideout that had been my home for the last few weeks. It was dark, the only light coming in through the entrance hole. I had to crawl through, and once inside I blocked off the entrance with the some stiff cardboard I had found, and then I had come up with a makeshift way to bolt the door, using a couple of old nails and some safety pins. It kept the bugs and the rats and the cats out, and it kept me dry during the winter. My home was just a space between the masonry and the drywall from the offices in the building. It was narrow, only maybe ten feet (by my reckoning) wide and about fifty feet long, and it extended upward all the way to the top of the building. The good thing was there was an open space near the top, which allowed me ventilation when I wanted to make a small cooking fire. Although it was dark I had a stolen penlight and some batteries for light. I had found the light but had stolen the batteries from a local electronics shop whose owner had tossed out a box of them, supposing they were out date. I had managed to lug quite a few into my hole in the wall so I had plenty of light when I so desired. Outside my hideout I could hear the sounds of the bustling city day and night.

I still could not believe how stupid I had been that day I had escaped Tomiko. What the fuck was I thinking? Now I had no way to get back to her, well, not specifically her but to her fathers device that had shrunk me. Any hope of my restoration was lost among the millions of Japanese that day in the crowded subway station when I had stupidly acted on a spur of the moment impulse to escape my captivity. I didn’t know exactly where I was, or where Dr. Suzuki’s house was, or exactly where the device was. I stopped and closed my eyes, the mental pain of what I had done hitting home again. I thought about my once quest, long since given up, of finding the American embassy. I had no idea where that was; it’s hard to explain how impossible it is to judge time and space when you are so out synch with both. It was all I could do to navigate the alleyway nowadays.

I put down my bounty of food and walked over to my penlight. I snapped it on and walked over to a dry box of matches. I took a match, and some try twigs I had from earlier and started a small fire. A bottle cap served as a cooking pot as I cut up some of the vegetables and tossed them into the bottle cap. Salt and Pepper packets from discarded fast food meals served as seasonings for my makeshift stew. I had no meat but at least I wouldn’t starve. An hour later I was full and warm. I crawled over to a used glove that served as my mattress and lay down. A wad of toilet paper served as my pillow and a handkerchief made a soft blanket. I listened to the rhythm of the crawling expanse of city, of cars and busses roaring back and forth, of people going about their everyday business oblivious to my comings and goings amongst them. I looked up into the vast space above me, wondering how long I could live like this. I tossed some more twigs onto the small fire at my feet, pulled the handkerchief up tightly around me and finally dozed off.

It was the scratching that woke me. I could hear a bustling, a scratching noise above me. I jumped off of the glove at once and grabbed my safety pin/sword. I looked at the doorway, it was secure. My attention was diverted but something caught the corner of my eye, dropping down behind me. I couldn’t make out the shape, but I could see more shapes dropping down to the floor, then I series of high-pitched squeaks that made my skin crawl.

They were on me practically before I could react. I hastily grabbed my makeshift bad of odds and ends and dashed to the doorway only a couple steps ahead of the huge black rats invading my home and hunting for me mercilessly. I screamed in panic as I quickly unbolted the door, the whiskers of the pursuing rats on my heels. I crawled out the hole into bright daylight. I was mid morning already. I ran from the hole in time to see the rat poke his head through, the duck back in. He was too fat to pursue me, but soon one of his thinner friends got through, and then another and another. I stumbled backward toward the curb and jumped down to the alleyway but I twisted my ankle badly in the process. I was now panicked; sure my life was going to soon be over, this time for real. I limped down the alleyway as the rats now surrounded me on all sides. I had but one way to go, and that was in the direction of the busy avenue. I could see the legs of men and women walking along the sidewalk as I ran toward them. The rats were running after me, apparently either unfazed by the people or too focused on the fresh meat limping ahead of them. My sprained ankle was killing me but I dared not stop for a second. I saw a small grass area to the right with an empty bench on it. I hobbled as fast as I could toward it. As I did so the rats followed me but at that moment a sidewalk sweeper suddenly appeared out of nowhere, sending the rats scurrying in all directions. I looked back and saw the rats were no longer pursuing, and so slowed down as I neared the bench and went underneath. I sat down on the grass and grabbed my ankle in pain. I rubbed it, hoping to ease the stinging. I had no idea what I was going to do now. The rats had invaded my home and were waiting for me. I was worse off now than I had ever been. I started sobbing, not noticing the large shadow over the bench, blotting out the sunlight.

“OH GODDAM IT FUCK IT ALL!!! I HATE THIS WORLD! *#&*(&#)&)(!!!”

“Who’s there? Who said that?”

I heard a low female voice all around me. I was astonished because the voice was in English, without even a hint of access. I looked up at the iron bench. I could see the enormous rear blotting out the light where it was showing through the open holes in the wrought iron. I cautiously walked out behind the bench so I wasn’t seen, I could see two enormous legs touching the ground behind me, and in front of me I followed the back of the bench and saw the outlines of a back, then long strands of auburn-red hair. From the looks of her from behind and the sound of her voice she wasn’t Japanese. My mind raced. It was another American! Finally I could get help and get to the embassy, maybe even back to Dr. Suzuki’s lab! I would be saved!

“I said that. Down here!” I shouted at the top of my lungs

She turned around and looked down and spotted me. I could see she was in her early twenties, with full lips and sparkling eyes and high cheekbones. I froze in place, afraid to move as she stared at me breathlessly. I could see she looked like she had been upset and there were tears drying on her cheeks.

“Oh my god. What are you?”

I realized my mistake too late. I didn’t want help from somebody. Everybody was just so frigging HUGE. I turned and tried to scamper away, but my ankle gave out once and for all and I fell to the ground in a heap.

“Oh! You’re hurt? Who are you? Why are you so small? Don’t run away I let me help you. You won’t get very far on that ankle.

“I’m ok, just leave me alone thank you very much.”

I looked over my shoulder to see this incredible bulk raise herself off the bench and whirl around behind at an amazing speed for someone her size. She crouched down next to me, a look of concern, mixed with what I detected to be wonder in her eyes as she examined me before her.”

“Don’t worry whatever you are. I won’t hurt you. I’m Charlotte, what’s your name?”

“It’s…Jack…Jack Thomas. Can you take me back to my home, please? I live in a hole in the wall in the alley way just around the corner.”

“But I just saw a bunch of rats in there. Look at you. You’re filthy and you look like you haven’t had a decent meal in ages. How can you live like this?”

“I have no choice; I have been living like this for some time.”

“That’s no place for someone to live, even someone as tiny as you.”

“Look I don’t know who you are or where I am but I’m trying to get to the American embassy as soon as possible. I need their help to see if I can’t find the person who did this to me and restore my size. I was a businessman here on a trip when this happened to me. So if you could perhaps you could tell me where the embassy is?”

“Um, isn’t that in Kyoto? You’re in Tokyo silly how did you get here? Plus I don’t think they’d receive you looking that way, why your little clothes are dirty and tattered, and your ankle sprained so badly you can hardly walk. I have a better idea, if you come with me to my hotel you can get cleaned up and I can do something about that ankle, then we’ll see about finding the embassy ok?”

“But but but-“

“But what? You are going to stay here out in the open? In the alley to get eaten by rats? I don’t’ think I could sleep at night knowing I could have helped someone. Besides I have a lot of room. My husband is away on a fashion shoot and won’t be back for a week. I have lots of room.”

I was about to protest when I felt something soft and firm slip under me. The smiling face of this girl beamed down on me as she scooped me up in her palm. She got to her feet and held me in front of her face. I felt naked the way she was studying me. I yelled at her to put me down this instant but she either didn’t hear me or more likely was ignoring me. I looked off the side of her palm at the ground a hundred feet below. The more I panicked the more this young woman seemed both concerned and amused. I felt her palm tip and I then expected to plunge to my death. I screamed as I fell but after only a couple of feet I landed feet first in a cloth sack that came up to my shoulders. I looked up from the front jacket pocket of her sweater to see her giggling at me.

“That should keep you safe until we get back to the hotel. You’ll have to duck down when we get there; I don’t want that Kelly to see you. We’ll have to sneak upstairs to my room come on lets go.”

I tried to protest, but we were already on the move. I was able to look out as the girl strode down the impossibly huge and busy streets of Tokyo. Giants and giantesses passed me by without giving me as much as a glance. I was almost reclining, I was at an angle caused by Charlotte’s breasts poking up against my back under the jacket pocket. It made the ride much softer as it absorbed most of he shock of her footsteps. I could only pray I was in good hands but I really had no idea and I had no choice.

The ride to her hotel went by dizzily. Charlotte kept asking if I was comfortable but I still said I’d be more comfortable if she took me straight to the American embassy. She laughed and paid me no mind as we entered a towering hotel building. It was so tall it made me dizzy just to look up at it.

“Oh there’s that Kelly. I can’t stand her, she’s an idiot. Keep down I don’t want her to see you.”

Her finger came into the pocked and pushed me down on top of my head. I sank into the pocket as we entered the hotel lobby.

“Charlotte, how are you.”

“Oh hi Kelly. Fine thanks.”

“GREAT! When is John going to be back, I HAVE to get together with him and arrange for him to take my picture? I love his work.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Of course you do. Say maybe I’ll see you at the bar tonight ok?”

“Maybe. Bye.”

As we walked into the elevator I poked my head up through the top of the pocket again. I saw her reach out and press the button for the 67th floor.

“I can’t stand that woman. I swear she has the hots for John, too.”

“Who is John?”

“My husband, but don’t worry, he isn’t due back for a week. He doesn’t see much of me even when he is here though because of his work.’

The elevator door opened and we walked over to a door. Charlotte got out her room card and swiped the door. As it opened up I reflected how in just a few minutes I had gone from living in a crack in the base of an office building to being on the 67^th floor of a luxury western style hotel in the heart of Tokyo, with all the modern conveniences you could ask for. I was going from primitive living to penthouse living in the blink of an eye, only I was no longer on my own. Once again I was in the possession of somebody else, this time an attractive young American woman.

Charlotte carried me into the hotel suite. I gulped as I could see out the window the city of Tokyo spread out before me. I couldn’t believe how high up we were. There was no way I was going to get down from here without her help. She walked over to the bed and set me down on it. It seemed to spread out in all directions for acres and acres. I couldn’t believe normal people slept on this. Charlotte told me to stay put and then she walked into the bathroom and closed the door. I heard the water running as I took a step toward the edge of the mattress. I looked over the side and nervously stepped back as it was just so far down. I decided to climb down to the floor. I’m not sure why but I think I just felt too intimidated on this giant bed. I got about halfway down when I felt a strong force clamp about my back, lifting me away from the bedspread.

“Help!”

“Oh hush you big baby. Look what I have for you.”

Charlotte lifted me to her lips and smiled at me. Standing to her full height she carried me tightly in her fist into the bathroom. I was set down on the vanity. I could see steam rising from the sink full of water, and soap bubbles on the surface. I looked up at Charlotte again. She was staring at me.

“Well go ahead. I told you I would clean you up. Now take off those rags and I will get you something suitable to wear. Go on, it’s ok.”

I looked back up at her as I fidgeted with my clothing. She seemed to get the idea and giggled as she turned her back to me.

“Ok fine I won’t look.”

I didn’t wait for a second reply, but I stripped the clothes off in seconds and dove into the sink. As soon as she heard the splash Charlotte turned around to see me soaping myself up with the lather and bubbles. I had to admit after all this time a hot bath felt great. I closed my eyes and sank down into the water, relaxing for the first time in a long while.

“There now you relax and I will find something to wear for you.” She said, and then headed into the other room. The relaxing bath and surroundings soon kicked in and I found myself dozing off.

A little while later a knock on the room door woke me up. I assumed it was room service, but when I heard Charlotte unlock the door I hard another female say hello.

“Oh hello Kelly how can I help you?”

“Well, seeing you in the lobby a while ago I forgot to mention that your husband left some photos of a test shoot we did together for me. Did he mention them to you? I’d really like to see which ones I want to use for my publicity shot.”

Kelly didn’t wait for an answer, she just walked through the door like she owned the place and in a second was scanning the room for what she was looking for.

“Um they might be over there. In that pile. Maybe. I don’t remember listen Kelly I don’t really feel too well could you maybe come back later?”

“Hey can I just look over there in the pile? Thanks hon. Say I’ll be right back I want to get a Kleenex from the bathroom.”

“NO!”

“Silly I just want to get a Kleenex its not like gonna do anything else.”

I heard the footsteps and saw the towering blond step through the doorway. I ducked down into the water, burying my head in an island of bubbles. I was hidden well as I studied the towering blond girl.

“Here they are. Thanks Charlotte hey do you know you’re sink is filled?”

I look with terror as a huge firm arm darts out, the fingers extending toward me, in any second her fingers will be squeezing about my middle as Charlotte will try to explain my presence.

“HEY what do you think you’re doing?”

“You don’t want the sink to overflow do you? I’ll just see what’s clogging the drain.”

The hand plunged into the water around me, causing a wave that rolled over me and the bubbles around me. I was close enough to her fingers to touch them but as they plunged deep into the water straight down for the drain.

“Stop! I want that sink filled for a reason. I’m…washing the stain out of a sweater, yes that’s it. Listen Kelly if you don’t really mind I have kind of a headache so, I think that folder over there is what you’re looking for, OK?”

The hand retreated above me, dripping water down on me as the long nails receded. I saw the towering form of the blond leaving the bathroom. As soon as she left I popped my head out of the water. I could hear the two giants in the next room.

“Oh OK, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to bother you. I just take them and go. See you later in the bar if you feel better, bye.”

I heard Kelly leave and the door to the room shut. Then footsteps approaching swiftly. In a matter of seconds Charlotte was through the door, her towering form just in front of the vanity.

“I think you’ve had enough bath time, ok?”

She didn’t wait for my reply, but reached in and grabbed me. I was embarrassed as her fingers closed around my naked form. I shot into the air, the soap and water dripping off me, as Charlotte held me above her head.

“Whooooooah!”

“I’m sorry, I just can’t get over how light you are. I can barely feel you in my hand. Here let me rinse you off then you can dry off.”

I was then lowered with frightening speed back down toward the water. She dunked me under water and held me for a second as she agitated me back and forth, then took me out. I was immediately deposited on top of a white towel, which closed in on me. I tried to yell but my words were muffled by the towel as it pressed all around me. Finally the towel dropped away on all sides. I grabbed a fold of towel to cover myself up as I looked up at her in embarrassment. I had been picked up again like a doll with no say. It hadn’t happened for a while since I had been with Tomiko. Now it was becoming a regular occurrence once again. I wasn’t comfortable staying in a hole in a building but at least I had my freedom.

Charlotte lowered a washcloth down to me. “Here you can use this until I get you some clothing ok? I noticed a department store just down the street I will find some suitable doll clothes for you. “

I grabbed the washcloth and wrapped it around myself.

“Thank you Charlotte, but please I’m not a doll, I’m person who was shrunk by a scientist. I really need your help.”

“Hmmmm come over her to the bed and you can tell me all about it.”

I was scooped up into her palm and carried me out to the other room. She walked over to the bed and set me down on one side, then climbed on and lay down on the other side. I was scooped up again and set down on her stomach. It rose up and down as she breathed, and so did I with it. I have to admit it was kind of cool being light enough that I caused no displacement on a girls stomach. I looked up at her and relayed the whole story from the start, how I had gone to see Dr. Suzuki, how he had shrunk me and bequeathed me to his daughter, how I had stupidly escaped and had to live like a rat until she found me earlier. She listened with concern as I relayed my tale and I hoped she would take me right away to the authorities but instead I was plucked off of her stomach as she rose up off the bed.

”Hey what are you doing? Charlotte set me down I’m getting dizzy.”

“Shhhhh I’m just putting you someplace safe until I get back. I’m going out to get you something to wear OK? Then when I get back I’ll get you something to eat.”

I looked at the room spin around as she carried me over to her dresser. She pulled out the top drawer and lowered me inside. I looked up at her helplessly as she waved down to me and then pushed the drawer closed partway.

“Back in a little bit my little friend. Now be good and stay put.”

“Awww don’t trap me in here like this.”

“Its for you own good now hush and I’ll be back in a while.”

I watched her colossal form move away, then I heard the door open and shut. I sat down in the drawer among Charlotte’s various tops. Her clothes all had the pleasant scent of her on them. I didn’t want to just sit here though. Even though I was told to stay put I just had to explore my surroundings a bit. After all I was an adult capable of my own decisions. I walked over to the edge of the drawer and looked down. It was a daunting distance at my height but I was determined to walk around the room and stretch my legs a bit. I saw a lamp cord hanging near by and I was confident I could leap over to it and shimmy down to the floor. I took a huge breath, then leaped off the edge of the drawer. I managed to slam against the wall hard, and bounce off as I grabbed the electrical cord. I wrapped my feet and hands around it and slid down like a fireman to the floor.

On the floor I looked up at my surroundings. The furniture towered around me like the office buildings of downtown Tokyo. I couldn’t believe how tall everything was. I walked over to the door, and I noticed there was room under the door between the door and the floor. I couldn’t really resist, I was bored so I squeezed myself under the door and took a look at my new envoirment. I was in a huge hallway that stretched miles in each direction. Door after door lined the hallway into the distance. I decided to do a little reconniseance and see what was around Charlotte’s room. It never hurt to be familiar with my surroundings in case Charlotte became unpredictable and I had to escape.

I hung close to the baseboard as I slowly made my way around the hallway. The hallway was pretty empty because it was the middle of the day. Far down the hallway, I could see the maid’s cart as she went into each room, changing sheets and cleaning up. I could hear the hum of the ice machine at the nearby. I decided to check it out and see if there was a candy machine. Who knows maybe I could scavange some dropped M&M’s.

I scurried as fast as I cold, clinging to the baseboard for safety. It took several minutes to reach the little nook in the hallway where there was an ice machine and a candy dispenser. I looked around for any dropped candy but the place was spotless.

I was walking dejectedly back to Charlotte’s room, my little exploration for naught. I realized I was helpless without the help of big people. Suddenly I head from behind me, one of the rooms down the hall open up and I saw a gigantic figure walk out of it. I could tell far away it was Kelly, the bothersome blonde who had almost discovered me twice already. She had an ice bucket in her hand and was making a beeline for the machine. I stared upward at her long legs as she got nearer and nearer to me. I decided I had to run forward toward the ice machine so I could hide behind it. I didn’t want another person to see me, especially Kelly who was attractive but seemed ditzy. God knows what she would do with a little man if she found one. I decided not to make it easier.

Kelly loomed nearer and nearer as I dove underneath the ice machine. She had noticed something moving and screamed loudly.

“Eeeeek! A mouse! A mouse! Somebody call the manager! Help save me help!”

I covered my ears and cringed as Kelly yelled out to nobody in particular. One of the maids came out and listened to her tirade, then went back to her cleaning as if she hadn’t understood a word. Kelly looked around exasperatedly, then realized nobody cared that she had just seen a mouse so she turned and stomped off to her room. She reminded herself to mention it when it came time to pay the bill.

With another close call I decided it was time to get back. I ran along the baseboard down the hallway and was about to slip under the door when a long shadow cast over me.

‘Just what do you thing you’re doing out of the room, huh?”

I looked up to see the face of Charlotte, holding some packages and looking none too pleased.

“Oh hi, I was, er, um, getting some ice and an candy bar down the hall but they were all out, see so I was…”

“Oh save it. This is the thanks I get for trying to help you. You’re coming right inside.”

“No wait Charlotte I-“

She bent down and snatched me up. Her fist was around me, constricting my movement as I was swiftly brought up to her face. She scolded me with her free index finger and then opened the door and brought me inside. I was set down on the dresser as she rummaged through her drawers and brought out a bra. She put the bra down beside me and I looked at it. What was she going to do with it? Then she opened one of the packages and brought out the contents.

“I went out and got you this and you try and escape. I should just keep you in the washcloth if that’s how you are gonna show your gratitude. Put these on I need to see if they fit you.”

Her hand opened up in front of me and I grabbed a tiny Hawaiian shirt and shorts and tiny sandals. They seemed to be my size. I eagerly dropped the washcloth and put on the doll cloths, not caring that she was watching the whole time.

“Charlotte I’m sorry really I wasn’t trying to escape I was just looking around its boring being in the drawer please don’t keep me in there.”

“Oh you’re staying out of the drawer all right but need to be punished in the time out room.”

“The what?”

“This.”

I felt her fingers wrap tightly around my body as she plucked me from the dresser top. She dropped me in the bra cup and folded the bra in half, trapping me in between the two halves like I was in a globe of fabric, and then she wrapped the rest of the bra around the cups so that I was sealed inside her bra.

“Hey let me out of this thing dammit.”

“You can just stay there for the next two hours while you learn your lesson. You need to realize little man you need me to survive now. Without me you’ll end up rat food or even captured by another person, someone like the Kelly. I bet you wouldn’t like that at all.”

“I don’t know she looks kind of hot.”

“WHAT DID YOU SAY?”

“I said captured by Kelly I think not.”

“Uh-huh. Well I will be back in two hours.”

It was a long two hours. I tried in vain to push myself out of the bra but the elastic material was to strong. Finally I sat down and just stewed. Finally the door opened and I heard Charlotte’s voice accompanied by a male voice. I cringed as it was quickly clear to me this was John, her photographer husband.

“I can’t believe you’re going off to Nagano with that bimbo!”

“I told you Charlotte its just a photo shoot. You are so jealous of her I swear.”

“When you told me you were back early I thought it was because you wanted to spend time with me.”

“Will you stop being so selfish, this is a very important job for me. The exposure for my career is important don’t you understand?’

“I understand you came back early to go off with Kelly.”

“Oh jeezus, I’ll be back in two days I promise, ok?”

“Ok.”

“Hey why are you leaving your bras out on the dresser?”

“John don’t! Be careful that’s my new friend.”

“Huh?”

I felt my bra upended as the material was un wrapped around the cups, then the cups separated and I saw Charlotte standing in front of me and behind her a skinny guy of medium height.

“What the fuck is THAT?”

“Oh I found him outside, isn’t he-“

“Charlotte HOW COULD YOU? I THOUGHT YOU TRUSTED ME AFTER ALL IM YOU HUSBAND!”

“What we didn’t do-“

“You have something like this in our room and you don’t tell me? Do you have any idea how much some of these Japanese tabloids will PAY for a picture like this? We can stay here an extra six months on what I can make off this! Let me get my camera!”

“John wait I-“

“Hey I don’t want my picture taken please.”

“Charlotte honey put him in your palm for scale. That’s good. Ok, hold still…”

I felt the flash go off and I was temporarily blinded. It went off several more times as John snapped away. By the time I could see clearly he had his bags and his arm around Charlotte as I was set down in Charlotte’s drawer.

“I will see ya in a day or two babe. You did good we’ll make a fortune off this.”

I protested as he moved close into Charlotte for a kiss. I screamed up at the two of them but Charlotte just pushed the drawer shut. I was a prisoner and was now about to be exposed for riches in the Japanese media. The only good news is he said he was selling the photos to the tabloids. I knew most people didn’t take them seriously so I was relieved at the prospect of people thinking it was a hoax. In the darkness of the drawer I fell asleep to the sounds of Charlotte and John having goodbye sex. It depressed me no end to know I was too small and out of reach of everyone and everything in this world.

Later Charlotte tried to make it up to me by taking me out of the hotel for a cup of lemon ice from a stand down the street. It was raining and she had on a raincoat and an umbrella. When I complained I was too hot in her pocket I was plucked out and she set on top of the umbrella. I slid down to the end of one of the ribs and hung on for dear life while Charlotte monitored me while she walked. It took all my might to keep from plummeting to my death but Charlotte was always a finger away.

*********

--TWO DAYS LATER—

I was lounging in Charlotte’s drawer, sitting on a pair of denim jeans when she burst in from outside brandishing a newspaper.

“Look at this! You’re famous!”

I looked in horror at the front page. There was a full color of me, sitting in Charlotte’s hand. Inside there was a brief article and more photos of me with Charlotte. I couldn’t believe this. The bastard had actually gone and sold the photos.

“Oh my god!”

“They are calling you the Amazing Chibi Chan, isn’t that adorable!”

“Chibi-WHAT! This is ridiculous I gotta get some help.”

“Don’t worry Chibi-chan, you will be safe with me. Now I have to go out to see some friends so I am gonna push the drawer closed. Try and get some rest ok? I will see you later my Chibi Chan.” She giggled and pushed the drawer closed, trapping me in again.

“Dammit stop calling me that! My name is Jack. Jack Thomas.”

“And now its Chibi Chan until I say differently. Later” I heard her coo from outside the drawer.

Dejected I had no choice but to try and get some rest. I was gonna get out of this mess or my name wasn’t Chibi Chan, er Jack Thomas.

At the same time, a young girl of seventeen was walking back from school, her backpack slung over her shoulder, brown hair waving in the wind. She passed by the news stand near her block and looked at the teen magazines as usual. She was about to continue when her eye caught the front page of one of the daily Tabloids that printed lurid stories of the weird and of the odd. She froze when she saw the headline scream about “The Amazing Chibi Chan” and the accompanying photos. She threw money at the newsstand operator and took the tabloid, running at full speed the rest of the way home.

Dr. Suzuki was working from home that day, alone in his study when his daughter Tomiko burst in waving a tabloid.

“Daddy its Mr. Thomas-san! He has been found by an American staying in Tokyo. There are pictures of him in the paper. Daddy he is ours and I want him back. Daddy please you have to help.”

Dr. Suzuki put down his pen and stared at the photograph. He had no use for the reduced American any longer but there was danger in having him in a position to expose what he had done. Perhaps it was better if he took care of this for both his daughter’s sake and for his.

“Run along Tomiko. I will see what I can do to find out where he is.”

He picked up the telephone and dialed a friend he had at the prefecture. The first step was to find the young American who had possession of Mr. Thomas. After that things would fall into place…

Shrunk In Translation, Part Three

“Come on chibi-chan it’s just a little noodle.”

“Charlotte please, I told you I've had enough already. And stop with this chibi-chan business. You’ve been calling me that for three days now and I’m sick of it.”

“Aww come on I think it sounds cute. You’re my little chibi-chan now eat up you’ve only eaten four inches of noodle.”

“But that’s almost the entire length of my body.”

“It seems like it’s hardly anything. Don’t you want some of the shrimp or shiitake mushrooms with the noodle? You’re supposed to combine the flavors of all three in your mouth.”

“But I said I’m full ok?”

“Oh come on just take a look at how good it looks. I’m sure you can find a room for just a little.”

I felt Charlotte’s fingers clamp around my middle as I was lifted off the dresser again. I had gotten used to her suddenness and abruptness of action when she handled me. As much as I protested she didn’t pay it much attention. I flew over to the other side of the dresser top. I was set down and immediately I felt the heat all around me, and my footing became uncertain. Looking at the sides of my prison I saw the sides rise up around me over my head. I was in a large bowl. At my feet was a tangle of noodles that made my movement in any direction difficult. I lifted my foot up and kicked a rubbery shrimp. It moved a few inches.

“See doesn’t this look good Chibi?”

“I can’t eat this crap. Get me out of here. I want a cheeseburger and French fries and a milkshake and some-.”

“Sorry it’s noodle bowl or bust Chibi.”

“My compliments to the chef.”

I lifted up a shrimp; the thing must have weighed twenty pounds. I took a huge bite but it took a good five minutes to chew and swallow even one mouthful. The mushroom was similarly tough for me to chew and my consumption slowed to a standstill.

“What’s the problem Chibi don’t you like it? You better get your fill now because I have to put you in the drawer soon. I have to go out for a bit.”

Before I could react the weight of the shrimp was lifted from my arms. Two wooden poles closed on either side of the shrimp at their ends, pinning it. I watched in fascination as the shrimp rose into the air and disappeared into Charlotte’s mouth. I was awestruck as she chewed up the twenty pounds of shrimp and swallowed it in a matter of seconds. It would have taken me days to eat that much.

“Mmmmm these are good. Are you sure you don’t want any more?” Something wrapped around my legs, causing me to wobble in place. She giggled as she pinched a bit of noodles between her chopsticks and sucked them into her lips. The tangle of noodles around my legs caused me to fall over backward onto a mushroom. The chopsticks kept returning again and again, each time lifting enormous amounts of food into her every hungry mouth. I didn’t even bother getting back up. I just watched on my back at the bottom of the bowl as the level of noodles got lower and lower until finally the only thing left in the bowl was me. She looked at me mischievously as the long wooden pincers gripped me on my side. I screamed and kicked in panic as I was lifted up to her mouth, but instead of swallowing me she just kissed me on my face. Her soft lips spread out over me.

“Mmmm you taste good. I should eat you up.’

“YAaaaaaa don’t eat me please!”

I felt myself going down swiftly until the wooden chopsticks let go and I landed on something soft. It was a sweater of hers. I was back in her drawer. I looked up just as she started pushing the drawer closed.

“Silly did you really think I’d eat you? I would never let any harm come to my little Chibi-Chan so don’t fret and I will be back in a couple of hours. My husband John has to stay over a couple of extra days on his photo shoot and I want to buy something nice to wear for him when he gets back, something that will make him forget about that tramp Kelly. Talk to you later Chibi ‘k?”

“Charlotte for the last time my name is not Chibi-Ch-“

She slammed the drawer shut and once again I was in dark but familiar surroundings. Even though she had said she was going to help me at first, all I had really done was stay in this drawer all the time. I think she liked me here with her because she was lonely and needy. Her husband as far as I could tell from our conversations, paid her little or no attention. So here was I, a convenient pet to pass the time with, to take care of which gave her something to do other than hang out at the bar. I know she had just had a good friend she had been hanging out with a lot leave Japan recently. I guess for her I was there to fill the void of his leaving, since John didn’t seem capable or willing to fill it.

***

In the home of Dr. Suzuki, his daughter Tomiko was putting on her best outfit. As she primps in the mirror her father stuck his head through the doorway.

“Time to go blossom. I have the hotel where the American girl is staying. I assume we will find Mr. Thomas-san there.”

“O’ father do you really think we can get my Chibi-Chan back? You promised he was mine! He was so neat having him in my room like that. He was the best pet ever, even better than the cat you gave me that got run over.”

“Well you should have been more careful. He is more than just a pet he was proof my machine does work, If we get your pet back we are going to discuss some stricter ground rules for his care and feeding, do you understand?”

“Yes father.”

“Good, we must take the train into the city. Don’t forget your lunch box. We will need something to take Mr. Thomas-san home in. And I have this in case our American gives us any trouble.” He held up a long tube wrapped in brown paper. It looked like something that might contain blueprints or a rolled up painting. It did not.

Dr. Suzuki and his daughter then left the house. Walking at a brisk pace to the station that would take them into the heart of downtown Tokyo.

Tomiko was excited. The tiny pet she had only just started to enjoy before losing, was about to be returned to her, its rightful owner. She was hopeful the American girl in the photographs was going to be reasonable and just hand her Chibi-Chan over to her.

Dr. Suzuki had cooked up a story about a biological warfare experiment going bad, and Mr. Thomas-san was the result; in a matter of days his body would convert to deadly anthrax spores, killing thousands of people in Tokyo once they became airborne. Surely the American girl would die soon, or so she was told, unless the tiny man was handed over to him, Dr. Suzuki, at once. Once safely in custody the tiny man would be provided all medical treatment possible in a controlled hermetically sealed environment. Hopefully she would buy that, and he would leave Tomiko out of sight so as to not arouse suspicions. If the girl didn’t go for the story he would have to resort to more drastic measures.

Tomiko didn’t care about any of that. She was only interested in getting the tiny man back into her possession. Since she had lost him she had thought of noting else. She had begged her father to be allowed to shrink someone else, anyone but he was adamant. No more test subjects for the time being. Not at least while the disappearance of Mr. Thomas was still on the authorities minds’. It was a miracle he had not been identified in the tabloid photos but fortunately the newspaper did not publish the close ups that John had taken. In fact it had been assumed it was just another lurid hoax designed to sell newspapers.

I sat in the drawer and slept while sealed up in darkness. If there is one thing I had learned to do since becoming Charlotte’s ‘guest’ it was sleep pretty much on demand. Also I seemed to need a lot more of it ever since being reduced in size. So it never failed that once the drawer was securely pushed back into the dresser and the door had shut and the lock clicked, I was usually asleep shortly after. Conversely I woke up as soon as I heard the jiggle of the door handle when somebody was coming into the room. A couple of times I has started yelling only to hear sounds that indicated it was a member of the housekeeping staff in to change the sheets. As soon as I heard them I piped down immediately, lest I be found by some middle aged Japanese maid. At least both Tomiko and Charlotte were young and attractive. I hated the idea of seeing fat, wrinkled, mottled skin at so close a perspective. I had to consider the alternatives, the negative ones every time I lamented my lack of freedom.

Still I worried about Charlotte’s intentions. Each day shrunk in the hands of he American girl meant a day closer to her, and my return to America, and I didn’t want that. At least not now, not while I was still in this sorry state. I needed to stay in Japan and find somebody to help locate Dr. Suzuki and get him to restore my size. I couldn’t see any other way since the device that shrunk me was highly experimental and it was highly unlikely that another one like it existed anywhere else on earth. It was depressing being resigned to ones fate, knowing that as long as I am sealed up in this drawer like an article of clothing that I could never regain my former life. I tried not to think about it anymore. I had some time until Charlotte returned, so I went back to sleep…

Charlotte walked to the hotel at a brisk pace, carrying the packages under her arm. She didn’t like to leave her new pet too long but she really wanted to look her best for when John came back into town. She foolishly spent a lot of money on lingerie, thinking that he might pay her more attention. She knew she was silly to get mad at him for spending time with Kelly; after all it was his job, that’s all. Still all alone in the hotel room her mind wandered to unpleasant thoughts, thoughts that had lessened a bit since she had met Bob, and now the tiny man she had safely locked away. She knew it was wrong not to turn him into the authorities, but she just couldn’t bring herself to do so. She was so lonely and he was so tiny and helpless, it seemed too nice to have him around. It was nice to have a person who truly did need her. Without her he as helpless, and would have perished in the streets had she not rescued him.

Hurrying up the walkway to the hotel she walked through the lobby at a brisk pace. Out of the corner of her eye one of the desk clerks was waving her over. The hotel had a message for her. Charlotte took the paper with the message and read it:

‘CHARLOTTE WILL BE ON ASSIGNMENT AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK. WILL BE BACK AT EARLIEST POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY. TRY TO HAVE FUN LOVE YA. JOHN.’

Charlotte threw the note away quickly, tears forming in her eyes. This was the last straw, she thought. She hated everything in her life right now; Japan, her marriage, everything except little Mr. Thomas. Only he had made her days here shorter since Bob had left. If John was too busy to see his wife, perhaps it was time she went back to the states without him. She needed time alone to asses their relationship’s future. She was distraught, about to board the elevator to her room when a heavily accented voice called out to her.

“Miss. Charlotte? Excuse me…”

***

The train ride into Tokyo was the usually smooth gliding of the train combined with the utter chaos of the arrival station. Tomiko clunk to her father as they pushed through the throng of folks headed to and from various destinations. The device, wrapped up in brown paper kept slapping against her as she clung to his side. She wondered what he would do if they found the American and she wasn’t that agreeable to let her Chibi-Chan go back with her.

As they made their way up out of the underground station and on to the street Dr Suzuki started to regret involving his daughter in this business. He should have gone alone once she had shown him the newspaper photo of Mr. Thomas-san. Still once he had given the American over to her care there was no dissuading her. He figured she might do something stupid on her own to get the little guy back. This way he could make sure the little guy was properly disposed of when found. He didn’t have the heart to tell Tomiko but it was far too risky to have a little man out there running around giving away the secret of his invention until it was time to reveal it. The lunch box he had told her to bring would make a suitable coffin. And as for the American girl, well if she tried to interfere…well that was why he had brought the device with him.

Inside the hotel lobby Dr. Suzuki instructed Tomiko to wait alone in the gift shop for him. He didn’t want her to be around while he tried to look professional. About 20 minutes of waiting he spotted an American with auburn hair and full lips, standing at the front desk reading a note, tears in her eyes…

***

“Excuse me, Miss…Charlotte it is?”

“Yes it is, how did you know?”

“Allow me to present myself. I am Dr Suzuki of the STRAND Corporation. I am here on official company business. I am investigating the disappearance of one of our American officials who disappeared last month and I believe you know where he is.”

“Me? Why would I know anything about that? I’m just here with my husband. He’s a photographer for a fashion magazine.”

“Yes your husband took this did he not?” He held up the tabloid with the pictures of her holding the tiny man.

“Oh, ha ha yes he did, but it was a hoax. You know these tabloids will print anything to sell newspapers. It was all a hoax. John just pasted some guy he shot at random into the photo of me as a joke. Now if you’ll excuse me I need to get to my room. My husband is waiting for me and he gets very upset if I’m not at a certain place on time.”

“Sorry to bother you miss, if you do happen to remember anything about this man please give me a call. Here’s my card.”

Charlotte hurriedly flipped the card into her purse, and then pushed the button on the elevator, her heart racing.

***

Come on honey she’s lying. I know she has Mr. Thomas-san. Let’s get him you can help me by distracting her when the time comes ok?

Tomiko agreed all too readily as the made their way to the next available elevator. Dr. Suzuki didn’t relish what he apparently had to do but he was ready to do it. He pushed the button and hugged the device close. He switched the power button to standby.

***

I was sleeping peacefully when the door burst open excitedly. I could hear Charlotte practically race over to the drawer and pull it open. I was immediately plucked up and set down on the dresser top as Charlotte leaned into me, a look of anger and concern in her face.

“Chibi! Chibi! Get up quick we have to get out of here. That guy you told me about who did this to you is here looking for you! I think he wants to kidnap you! I’ve got to get you away from here right away.”

“I told you for the last time stop calling me HEY PUT ME DOWN!”

Charlotte snatched me up and walked over to the door.

“Sorry Chibi-Chan there’s just no time to argue. My friend Kazuo has an extra room we can stay for a- “Charlotte was speechless. She pulled the door open, revealing Dr. Suzuki and a young girl standing in the doorway to the room. The man looked serious, and she noticed for the first time he was carrying a strange tube.

Charlotte let out a yelp and instinctively took a step backward in fear. Dr. Suzuki stepped through the door with Tomiko and closed it behind them. I heard the sound of the door locking from Charlotte’s hands. Before I knew what happened I felt a terrific force at my back, then I was upended and flying through the air. I screamed in terror as Tomiko had managed to wangle me from Charlotte’s hands and was now dangling me from my left ankle over her delighted face. She then lowered me down against her small breasts and I sank into their softness as she pressed me close and cuddled me like a favorite kitten.

“Chibi-Chan!” I heard her coo.

“What is with this Chibi shit? I’m not some freakin’ doll tell her to put me down Charlotte! Help!”

“Hey you leave Chibi alone!”

I then heard Dr. Suzuki speak harshly to Tomiko, and I was sent swiftly downward. I was dumped on the floor unceremoniously. I stared up at the giants towering over me as they argued.

“I will deal with you as I should have in the beginning Mr. Thomas-san, but first you will be joined I’m afraid in your final hour by your American girlfriend…”

“Charlotte run!”

I then heard Tomoko speaking in Japanese to her father.

“Father may I have the female too?”

“I am sorry daughter but it is too dangerous for you to keep either of them. They must be disposed of for their own good. I am sorry but I will make it up to you.”

“Father you promised.”

I cringed as Dr. Suzuki raised the bazooka looking thing and pointed it at Charlotte. I screamed at her to run but she froze in terror. I saw Dr. Suzuki’s finger pull the trigger that would make her the same size as me. I had to act fast. I looked around on the floor for anything I could use but it was so damn clean. Then I saw nearby just the thing. A staple. I dashed over and grabbed it, then sank the pointed end into the exposed part of Dr. Suzuki’s ankle just as he pulled the trigger. He yelped in pain, throwing his aim off and causing the energy charge from the device to miss Charlotte completely. Instead it flowed directly across the room into a full-length mirror. I could see the beam bounce right back at Dr. Suzuki, striking him full force. There was a pop, then silence.

When the smoke cleared Charlotte was bending over me. She scooped me up again, tears of joy on her face. I was cuddled into her chest. I looked around for Dr. Suzuki but there was nothing.

Then I heard it. It was a high pitched, angry squeak. If one listened closely one could probably hear curses in Japanese. Charlotte and Tomiko followed their eyes to the source of the commotion until their eyes met the tiny being on the floor shouting up and waving his fists at them.

“Serves him right. Bastard.”

We saw Tomiko take a step toward her father, an incredible look of amazement on her face. Then there was a sharp crunching sound, followed by more hysteria from below. We looked down to see Tomiko pick up her black Mary Jane show. Underneath were the flattened remains of the shrinking device. RIP.

Dr. Suzuki didn’t take this very well he began screaming in Japanese and in English a million things at Tomiko. I could make out in English the words Imbecile, and Stupid and Moron and a lot of others. Tomiko at first looked like she wanted to cry, then as the tirade progressed she looked more and more annoyed. Finally she bent down and plucked her tiny father up between her thumb and forefinger. She looked him right in the eyes.

“Chibi-Chan!”

“Thomas-san help me, American girl, anybody help me please!”

I have to admit I didn’t feel one bit guilty as Tomiko lowered her father into her lunch box and closed him inside. She looked around at me and Charlotte nervously, then suddenly bolted for the door. I felt Charlotte’s body lurch as she started after her but I stopped it.

‘Let her go.” I said. She did, and soon we were both laughing in relief.

Tomiko flew down the hall and into the elevator. When she got to the lobby, she ran as fast as she could outside and down the street to the train station and from there as fast as she could straight home. Inside the lunchbox Dr. Suzuki was bruised and battered and scared. He cringed at the thought of being trapped at this size forever but that’s the situation he found himself in.

His daughter had already proclaimed him her new Chibi-Chan.

EPILOGUE

‘LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THANK YOU FOR BOARDING JAPAN AIR FLIGHT 1125. OUR TIME TO DESTINATION LAX IS FIFTEEN HOURS WITH A REFEUELING STOP IN HONOLULU, HAWAII. AS WE ARE ABOUT TO TAKE OFF PLEASE NOTE THE NO SMOKING LAMP IS ON. PLEASE FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS AND REMAIN IN YOUR SEATS UNTIL THE SEATBELT LIGHT IS OFF WHEN WE REACH CRUISING ALTITUDE.’

I struggled against the thick seatbelt which held me against Charlotte’s stomach. I tried to get some more movement but I was too tight. It was going to be a long flight.

“Comfy little Chibi?”

“No I want a first class seat.”

“I beg your pardon you are in a first class seat.”

“But what about your husband?”

“Well if he wants to be in Japan so bad so be it. I am going home and I’m not going home alone. No matter what happens in my marriage I have you at least, my little Chibi-Chan.”

“Will you please stop calling me that?” It was no use. The roar of the engines revving for take off all but drowned me out. In seconds we would be in the air and I would begin my new life as Charlotte’s…Chibi-Chan, what else? Nobody ever even told me what the name Chibi-Chan meant. I guess it must have been lost in translation.

The End???