** BRIAN **

I WAS ALMOST FINISHED WITH THE RECORDING OF the score for Allan’s debut video. I had the keyboard attached to the PC and my oh-too-familiar mixing software in full operation. I started feeling a little bit stuck, so I decided to get up and call my lawyer. I didn’t really mind Allan hearing the conversation, but I must confess I’d much rather have everything over and done soon.

‘As I live and breathe!’ Carl, the lawyer in question, answered the phone excitedly. It had been five years since I last called him, but, apparently, he still had my number saved. ‘Brian Leech comes back from the dead!’

‘I wasn’t dead, Carl. I had just retired, but it does feel nice to talk to you.’

‘Hey, boy. You know that in show biz dead and retired are the same crap.’ He was absolutely right. ‘But it’s good to hear from you, too. Tell me. How can I help?’

‘I am writing a series of songs to serve as soundtrack for a YouTube channel. It’s totally pro bono for me and I don’t intend to change it. But I was wondering if you can take care of copyright and everything, so we don’t see the music anywhere we don’t desire. Like I said, it’s pro bono only for me, don’t you worry.’

‘Why would I?’ Carl sounded amused. ‘You have always been the most honest client I have ever seen. It’s good to have you back in the industry, boy! But tell me, tell me, have you talked to—?’

‘No’ I cut him. ‘And I’d pretty much appreciate it if you kept this only between us.’

‘Your wish is my command.’

‘Good. I don’t think any propositions will come out of this, but I might be wrong. Still, better safe than sorry. I think I can handle any possible negotiations myself, but can I count on you to have the legal technicalities covered?’

‘Of course, Brian. Of course.’

‘Good. Later today I’ll have the music sheets sent for you for registration. Please, send me your bill with the finished documents, will you?’

‘Sure thing,’ he said. ‘I’ll have it all sorted out by the end of the week. I’ll have someone go to your place to collect some signatures.’

‘All right. Take care, Carl.’

‘You too, kid.’

I don’t know what I was thinking. Talking about the bureaucratic aspects of my work never helped me feel inspired. I left the office and contemplated the bedroom door for a second or two, seriously considering going back to bed to Allan. I didn’t know if he were sleeping late today or if I had woken up way too early. Maybe both.

Instead, I decided to sit by the living room window and do some people-watching. It was the middle of the week and not so many people were passing. Mostly busy ones on their way to work. I stayed there for about half an hour and, thinking I had come up with the missing idea, returned to the office keyboard.

I finished the recording process and went to wake Allan up. I was really eager to show him the final work.

Later that day, I had Allan scan and send the music sheets to Carl’s office and filled him in the legal details that were there to protect the work.

Friday afternoon had Carl coming to visit shortly before Allan arrived from work.

‘I knew you wouldn’t resist coming yourself!’ I greeted him with a hug after opening the door.

‘I missed you, kid! Well, you’re no longer a kid anymore, are you?’

‘No, man. I’ll be twenty-three in a few weeks.’

‘Sweet heavens, we haven’t talked since—’

‘Since we finished sorting my retirement. Yes. You’re the only one I missed, you know that, don’t you, Carl? You’ve always been the only one to actually listen to what I had to say and you’re the one who sneaked that clause about any contract being only renewed in my presence and if I wanted to. Also, by making all contracts expire precisely when I became of age so no one could force me to do anything I wouldn’t want to. You saved my life with that. I would be stuck to them until today if it weren’t for you.’

‘Nah, kid,’ he waved his hand. ‘That was nothing. I guess I always saw in you a talented artist who wanted music without fame. Plus, you were only twelve when old Charlie signed you up. The first and only child star I’ve ever represented and I already knew Charlie well enough to allow you to be trapped to him.’

‘So you’ll understand why I want to keep this private, right?’ I said as I poured him some apple juice, explaining there was no alcohol in the flat. ‘I honoured my contract with him and his people and I owe them nothing. I even bought all my back catalogue from him so I can live my life without even the shadow of Charlie.’

‘Of course, Brian. Not only I’ve always taken upon me to see you protected, but also what kind of lawyer would I be if I went round the globe talking about my clients’ business?’

‘You would be Michael Gomble, who was publicly disgraced for doing exactly that,’ I laughed holding my glass of apple juice. ‘Thank God you’re not.’

‘I thank God every day I’m not him too,’ Carl allowed himself to laugh at his ex-colleague’s disgrace. Right then I heard the door unlocking and Allan came through into the flat. I stood up to greet him and make the introductions.

‘Carl, this is Allan Altridge, my partner. Allan, this is Carl Anthony, our lawyer, saviour and guardian angel. This is a special day. Carl, what do you say you join your youngest client to some pizza? Am I still the youngest, though?’

‘I think you might be. And pizza sounds great!’

Having Carl cover the legal aspects and protect all the new music I created for Allan’s channel was not only a great idea, but also very handy. Being listed as legal contact meant he got any proposition calls first and every time there would be one, he would text me with the offer. True, until the fourth month, nothing happened. Then, other channels started approaching. It was about seven months after Allan had posted his first video, a few weeks before the holidays, that Carl called me instead of texting. Allan had posted, two days before, a gameplay about this superhero game that was coming and the hype for his video was almost as strong as for the game itself. So much so that the studio invited him along with other YouTuber players for the release party.

‘Hey, kid!’ Carl said on the phone. ‘I think you’ve been extra good this year, because apparently Father Christmas came for you earlier. Are you sitting?’

‘Yeah. Sure. Shoot me. What has Father C given me?’

I kept a poker face all through the call. In the end, I barely said to Carl, ‘sure. Let’s arrange a meeting and see if the offer is indeed as generous. We can meet whenever suits you and them. Thank you, Carl. Goodnight.’

‘Hey,’ Allan said coming closer to me. ‘I thought I was the one to give you a nice Christmas surprise. What did Carl want?’ He sounded nonchalantly and I couldn’t hold the excitement much longer.

‘It was the studio of that superhero game you just published the first gameplay of.’

Allan’s mouth fell to the shape of an o.

‘They’re making a movie based on the game and they want me to compose and conduct the official score!’

Both Allan and I screamed in excitement.

‘SWEET DEVOTION, BRIAN! THIS IS SO AWESOME! YOUR FIRST MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK! OH MY GOD! I’M SO PROUD OF YOU!’

‘That’s not all!’ I said in a very high tone. Well, as high as this incredibly low voice of mine can go, which isn’t much. ‘They want me to use the track I made for your video as base, so they can tie in the game with the movie!’

‘Oh my God, Brian! That is so perfect!’

‘I know! I know! We still have to discuss the details and sign the contract, but I am already so happy. Will you go with me? To the meetings? This would never have happened without you. I want you to be there for it.’

‘Of course, I’ll be there with you, my love,’ he said holding my face in his hands and kissing me all over. ‘We have to celebrate! Let’s go to that Italian place we like!’

‘Sure! But later. Right now, I want to celebrate only with you. In bed. Naked.’