Reaching up for the top rung of the ladder, Mark lifted himself onto lip of the glass. Taking a moment to steady himself, he crouched forwards into a semi-diving position. Pushing off the edge, Mark dove headfirst into the pool below, resurfacing a moment later with a mouth full of dark liquid.

This as it had turned out, ended up being a particularly good brew. Not too sweet, not too bitter, and just the right touch lemon to even it out. Mark couldn’t help but submerge himself once more, taking in all delicious flavors as he swam with his mouth open.

He had never had so much fun swimming before. It was a great sense of freedom and joy coupled with the fact that he had taken off his clothes before diving in, making the experience all the more exhilarating.

It was an unparalleled experience. In fact, he was to be the first person to ever enjoy such a luxury, and it was all thanks to his genius. A genius that after years of ridicule would finally be recognized. For Mark had done something no other brilliant mind could ever hope to achieve. Mark had created a shrink ray.

It was his life’s work. For years Mark had tried getting his research recognized by The Board of Scientific Advancement. But time and time again they dismissed his theories as lunacy and refused to recognize him as the scientist that he was. All because he didn’t have a “P.H.D.” or go to a “fancy college”. He didn’t need some stupid paper telling him he was a genius. He WAS a genius. A genius that managed to find a way to shrink molecules down without disrupting their original properties. So not had he only created a shrink ray, but a completely safe one at that. After he had worked out a few kinks of course.

But all of this was about to change, for tomorrow he would bring his invention before The Board, once more showing them the majesty of his minds work.

Afterwards he would patent the idea, making a monopoly off size related technology. He would be rich, famous, and most of all popular! A celebrity and genius by every right. No more living in the quiet suburbs or ordering cheap pizzas while tinkering in his basement, instead he would travel to a different city every night, surrounding himself with only the finest women and food money could buy. It was going to be a good future.

Mark had decided to celebrate his impending success. But he wanted to do it in a way only he could enjoy. Today turned out to be quiet the beautiful summers day and nothing said enjoying a beautiful summers day than a quick dip in the pool. Unfortunately Mark didn’t own a pool, at least not yet. That's when he came up with an idea. Why not take a dip, and enjoy a cold beverage while at it.

Mark brewed the tea and poured it into a glass. Crafting small metal rungs, Mark lined them both inside and outside the glass so that he could safely enter and exit as he pleased. Setting the shrink ray on the table, Mark afixed it in a position that would allow him to access it both before and after shrinking, eliminating the worry of him becoming trapped in a tiny state. The plan was fool proof, as to be expected by such a cunning and intelligent person.

It had all worked out exceptionally well, and was turning out to be well worth the effort. Sure showering off the sugar liquid would be a hassle but now Mark was the only person alive to say he had take a swim inside a glass of tea and the best part was he could drink as much as he wanted with no consequence.

In fact the idea had turned out so well Mark was already making a mental note to do this again in the future. He would keep a shrink ray for himself or at the very least build another one. This way he could enjoy a beverage pool whenever he desired. Perhaps he would even make an event out of them. Invite all the celebrities and famous people over for a dip in a bowl punch or a glass of champagne. His parties would be the most popular in town.

Floating on his back in the center of his freshly brewed tea pool, Mark’s enjoyment was interrupted by the sound of his kitchen door sliding open. That was odd. He wasn’t expecting anyone today. Treading back to an upward position, Mark made his way over to the edge of the glass.

Stepping in through the sliding glass door was Mark’s neighbor Tami. Tami was a woman in her late thirties, and a mother of two daughters; both of whom were in college.

She was a gorgeous woman, tanned skin with dark hair and blue eyes. She currently wore a yellow tank top that seemed to strain as it kept her buxom figure in check. Accompanying her top was a pair of faded blue jeans, which retained some grass and dirt stains on her knees, a well as her white sun hat, which she normally wore whenever she was out gardening.

Tami was the envy of the neighborhood, and Mark couldn’t have wished for a more eye catching neighbor. Her husband left a couple years back, leaving Tami to work an extra job and bring up her children on her own. Despite her being almost ten years older than him, Mark had an obvious infatuation with her.

He made it a point to be quite the handyman wherever she was concerned. Tami normally came to him whenever she needed help, something stopped working or needed a quick fix, in return she usually would bring over different desserts or other goodies that she ended up baking. Though Mark was always secretly hoping one day he would be offered a different kind of desert.

Tami closed the door behind her, as she stepped into the kitchen looking around for any sign that Mark was at home.

“Hey Mark, sorry to just barge in but are you home?” She called out. “Mark!?” She repeated. Her voice growing louder with every approaching step.

“Odd.” She muttered aloud. “I could have sworn I saw his car out front.”

Mark watched as Tami looked about curiously. He sighed to himself.

“Well I guess I should go see what she wants...”

He began swimming for the ladder when he saw Tami’s attention turn his way. Stopping he began swimming in place.

“Oh. Looks like she spotted me. How fortunate.” He said amused.

Tami approached the table her footsteps causing slight ripples in tea. Mark waved to her from inside the glass hoping to catch her attention. Tami looked inside before turning around to look over here shoulder.

“What are you doing, i’m right her?” Mark questioned aloud.

“It sure is a hot one today… i’m sure Mark won’t mind if I take a quick sip.” Tami said muttering to herself.

“Actually I would mind!” Mark shouted back at her.

At his current size Mark was unaware that Tami could not hear him. Her hand reached down for the glass, grabbing hold and lifting it up to her mouth.

Mark panicked as his world began to shift. Tami’s lips pressed over the cusp of the glass and parted as she began sucking in the surrounding tea. The suction created by her mouth made a current too strong for Mark to fight as he found himself being pulled towards her open mouth. Just before he was pulled inside, Tami removed her lips from the glass, allowing for Mark and the rest of the liquid to settle as she placed the glass back on the table.

“Wooo that’s good.” She said aloud. “Mark needs to give the recipe some time.”

Stepping back Tami continued her way into the next room.

“Mark! If you’re here I just need to borrow your trowel! Mine broke while I was out in the garden, I promise to bring it back soon!”

Tami left the room heading towards the direction of Mark’s garage. Once she was gone Mark adjusting himself as he returned to treading tea.

“That was a close call.” Mark said to himself.

He turned and began swimming towards the direction where he had attached the ladder.

“No matter, I’ll just get out before-”

Mark stopped as he saw the ladder rungs were no longer there. Looking about frantically he eventually spotted them sitting on the bottom of the glass. At some point during her sip the rungs must have come undone. Mark swore to aloud himself. Things had become a lot more dire, if he didn’t manage to find a way out soon he would eventually drown as his body would tire from keeping himself afloat. Worst of all no one would even have the faintest idea of what happened to him. I mean who in their right mind would suspect he had drowned in a glass of tea.

Mark began to size up the distance between himself and the bottom. It was deep, possibly too deep for him to reach. Even if he did the metal rungs would be a challenge to bringing back up, at least within a single dive. Mark had always prided himself on mental prowess not physical, and it tormented him to know that his incapability to carry while swimming might be his undoing. But he was smart he knew he could formulate a plan, but before he could foot steps alerted him to Tami’s return, carrying his trowel in hand.

Tami made her way through the kitchen and straight for the door. As she passed though she stopped as something on the table caught her attention. At first Mark was afraid she was going for the glass again, but as she approached he realized she had taken interest in the size ray he had set up. She examined curiously, before looking and noticing the tiny set of clothes that lied next to it.

“Are those supposed to be clothes?”

“Brilliant!” Mark exclaimed, seeing his change in luck

“She's noticed the invention and my outfit. Of course she will logically put together the devices purpose and come to realize I shrunk myself. After that she will wonder where I am and come to realize I must be in the tea; as it is the only other object on the table. From there it’ll be a simple fix of fishing me out and growing me back to normal. It’s all so straight forward and obvious!”

Mark couldn’t help but let out a manic laugh.

“Fortune smiles upon me it seems!”

“Mark has some weird hobbies.” Tami aloud, before turning away from the device.

“WHAT!?” Mark shouted completely flabbergasted.

As Tami turned to leave but hesitated as she stopped and gave the glass a quick glance

“Oh good, she’s noticed. I need to realize not everyone’s mind is as amazing as mine, it just takes some people longer to figure-”

Mark was interrupted as the glass shook, causing the waves within his confinement. Looking up as the glass was lifted from the table, Mark saw that Tami had brought the glass up to about chest level

“I’m sure Mark won’t mind if I finish the rest of this, he is blindly in love with me.” Tami mused to herself.

“I’ll have you know that I would mind!” Mark shouted before pausing and considering the rest of her statement. “…and I am not!””.

Tami raised the glass back up to her lips, but this time her mouth opened wider as she was not content with just a small sip. Mark watchedon in increasing horror as her mouth stretched open before him, giving a full view of what awaited him inside. Tilting the glass forward, Tami’s throat opened as a current of tea came rushing back.

The level of the liquid shifted with each gulp, as Tami continued to tilt back her head, determined to finish the glass in one go. The tea ran over her tongue before crashing into the back of her mouth; very reminiscent of watching the ocean’s tide crash against a rocky coast. The tea pooled only for a second before it was sucked down, each with a resounding swallow that violently shook the tan waves.

The sounds of rushing water and heavy gulping was all Mark could hear as he was finally carried of the glass and into Tami’s cavernous maw. Mark didn’t have time to even consider struggling, as his eyes remained fixed on his destination. Mark was swallowed with ease as the esophageal muscles closed in on him. The muscles tightened as he found himself falling, being guided by esophagus his entire trip down.

On the outside Tami paused as she felt something enter her throat. Reflexively she began rubbing, to ease the discomfort she felt. Must have just been a small ice cube she thought.

Dropping into Tami’s stomach, Mark landed in a pool of tea and bile. Emerging from the viscous liquid, Mark took in a deep panicked breath of musty air. He began blindly moving around in the dark, until he stumbled upon a small island of a mashed substance to climb on top of. As more liquid continued to pour in from the sphincter above, Mark fully pulled himself out of the digestive  soup. Sitting down he collected himself, listening as the liquid stopped pouring in, in the distance he could make out the faint sound of a small content sigh.

“Much better.” Tami’s voice resonated around him. “I’ll really need to steal this recipe.”

Mark sat in silence, the only sound to accompany him was the groaning of the gastric chamber.

“That...” Mark shakely began hesitantly

“...that… that was… FANTASTIC!” He shouted as he jumped to his feet. “How fascinating! Oh, how deeply fascinating!”

“I must be the first scientist in the world to ever have gone through such an experience! The first of any to have first person experience with the human digestive process! Oh, how I will be the envy of my peers, a true pioneer into the world of biological understanding!”

Looking around in the dark, Mark cupped his ears to listen to the groans and gurgles the stomach made. Reaching down he scooped a small bit of the substance he stood on with two fingers. It was a mushy but still with a slightly solid texture. Bringing the substance to his mouth he tasted it before spitting it back  out in disgust.

“A bagel… I think?”

The chamber shook as Mark fell backwards into the mound of food. On the outside Tami patted her stomach with satisfaction, before making her way back outside.

Mark’s whole world shook as Tami started walking. Every step causing the sea of tea and bile to rock. Mark steadied himself as he once again found footing. Standing at his full height he laughed out hysterically.

“This is amazing!“ He declared. ”To think what might become possible with my technology, and here I was focusing on fame and wealth but in reality it goes beyond that! My work will take humanity into its next greatest step of evolution, I shall be a harbinger in the world to come! A figure that will stand the test of time as a legend of human ingenuity!”

The stomach let out another groan as it began to churn. Nearly catching himself from falling off, Mark hesitated as a sudden thought crossed his mind. A thought that had somehow eluded him up until this moment.

“Wait… how am I going to get out of here?”