Despicable Me: Beat Stress Chapter 2
''Mom I feel like a machine myself with these wires stuck to me'' Margo told Lucy. ''You'll be fine Margo'' reassured Lucy, ''I'll be right here''. ''Ok then Margo, if you can keep nice and still for me please that would be great'' said Sandra. Margo lay there with the electrodes and wires stuck to her while the machine checked her heart rhythm. She could see wavey lines moving on the screen. Margo was amazed that the test only took a few minutes. Soon enough Sandra removed the electrodes and wires from Margo's arms, legs and chest and Margo could put her shirt and jacket back on. Sandra printed out the results on a piece of paper. ''Well done Margo'' she said, ''You did really well to keep still. I'm just going to go and show your test results to Dr Beecher and we will find out what is causing this irregular heartbeat of yours''.
Margo nodded and smiled. It didn't take long for Sandra to get back to Margo with Dr Beecher. ''Hello again Margo'' he said, ''I've been through your test results with Sandra and your palpitations appear to be caused by stress. Do you or your mom have any idea how this might be?''. ''Well I don't like sleeping with my dad's minions while my bedroom that I share with my sisters is being repainted and decorated'' Margo admitted, ''Those minions are just too rowdy. It just isn't the same as the peace and quiet in my own bedroom''. ''Ah so that might be why you are stressed'' said Dr Beecher. ''Is there any way of stopping the stress and the palpations?'' asked Lucy.
''Well you may be able to control them with calming activities or a mindfulness exercise that focuses on your breathing'' replied Dr Beecher. ''Thank you very much'' said Lucy, ''We will try those, come on Margo, let's go home''. So they said goodbye and left. Later that day Lucy had an idea for a calming activity. She went on the laptop and made a booking. ''Margo go get your swimming things ready'' she said, ''Are we going swimming Mom?'' asked Margo. ''Sort of'' said Lucy. Margo wondered what her mom was planning. She soon found out. They want into what looked like a leisure centre and Lucy spoke to a lady and paid her. Then Lucy and Margo went to some changing cubicles to get changed into their one piece swimming costumes.
''Here we are Margo'' said Lucy pointing to two white tanks, ''We are each going into a Sensory Deprivation Tank''. ''What's that?'' asked Margo. ''It's a dark soundproof tank with salt water that you can lie afloat in'' explained Lucy, ''People use them to help reduce stress and anxiety and get better sleep''. Lucy and Margo each got into their tanks which were side by side and closed the lids. ''See you in an hour's time'' said Lucy. Inside Margo's tank to her surprise, she could really stay afloat on the salty water. For the first time since being stressed about not sleeping in her own bedroom, Margo felt relaxed and soon fell asleep.
She dreamt she was Blondie and then her mom Lucy. When the session was over, Lucy and Margo got out of their tanks. ''How are you feeling now sweetie?'' Lucy asked after they had put their clothes back on. ''Amazingly relaxed'' smiled Margo, ''That Sensory Deprivation Tank was awesome!''. On their way home, Lucy told Margo, ''You were a good girl at the ECG test and all while you were stressed, so I'm gonna let you chose a restaurant you'd like to eat at for dinner''. ''Oh thank you Mom!'' said Margo giving Lucy a hug, ''I want to go to Pizza Heaven please''. Soon Margo was eating away at her Hawaiian cheesy stuffed crust pizza. ''Yummy!'' she said happily. Margo was also delighted when she got home and found out from Gru that the repainting and decorating in her room was all finished and she, Edith and Agnes could move back in with all their things.
''Now that is music to my ears!'' beamed Margo. Later that night, Lucy and Margo sat on the crocodile couch wearing their pyjamas watching a movie together. Margo stretched out and snuggled against her mom with Lucy's arm wrapped round her. This was a special moment between Margo and her mom that no one else would share.
The End