Billy's music journeys began slowly to establish a fan base in Chipressionable, but not of the rahat Atnta Records desired. The cold was one of the on gestions, so the wait was just a time for proactive work.

  In the small New York building, payments were made in advance, checks for the band members. Each received 5000 for their participation—very little! But also a lot, as the record bel took care of the expenses, and they only pyed for an audiehey may not have earned enough, but at least they seemed tent with the check, which would surely help them in future difficulties.

  -That's all, gentlemen. You go, - said Jerry Wrexler, cheg the time. - Your flight leaves in an hour. I hope you enjoy California as much as you . And you, Spehe driver will take you to your block. Be safe, son, - he said, shaking hands with the rest of the band while Billy sat aside, pying aric guitar.

  -Thank you for the tour, - Spencer said from the side to Jerry Wexler, and Billy overheard the two elders discussing many things about the future that y ahead for each of them.

  -So what will you do? Will you go back with Spencer? - Billy asked.

  or nodded without further ado. - I'll improve on the drums. Now I py for six hours straight, - the boy replied with some intrigue, a challenge proposed upon seeing Billy's advang talent was like a rocket taking off and never ceasing to cover the distaween them. Earthly talent was now even being accimed by Ahmet Atergun, who was initially unaware of the brute talent of the boy, sidered him a good poser, sedly an average singer, and now thinks of him as a prospect for the star of the industry.

  -We'll meet again soon, or. Try to keep up with me. Master Spencer is a great teacher, - Billy said, unsure of what else to say. The hotel was quiet again as Local H left in the m and Roy Elffen stayed behind to sort out a few issues. Billy was now in the sights of new record bels, and the first thing they tried to iigate was the duration of the tract, the sed was whether they could make a purchase. Unfortunately, Jerry Blindo tailored both the tract for Billy and the record bel. Breach of tract was a ridiculous thing not worth breaking.

  Only crazy thoughts ran through Billy's mind about the future that awaited him as a singer, pnning a detailed pn. His move was to tiraining in music as he had done for the past few months.

  The building of Atnta Records was now in sight, and ohing that couldn't escape Billy's prodigious mind was that it was now a on norm for songs to be downloadable sihe emergence of the Napster ptform. The implied idea of people gathering in many pces to download songs. How to bat that? It was impossible to fight against the i, in Billy's opinion. If you 't beat them, join them. Be a part of that small p your heart and go with the flow.

  Trying to improve his guitar skills, Billy saw Jerry arrive, looking pensive. Something very normal for him, it was even fun to see the old man, annoyed by the smallest details of life.

  -Is something wrong, old man? - Billy said, Jerry wao tradict him, but he was tired of being remio call him old. He sighed; it was better to save his energy for a scolding that was worth it.

  -You should watch yuage; we have an importaing you o participate in, - Jerry said.

  Jerry led him to the boss of bosses, and not far behind, Roy Elffen joihem out of pure curiosity, something that was not in Jerry's pns—this he thought—couldn't be dismissed. Rht moogether with Ahmet, it was better that both could join, as it would only propel Billy's career. Upoering the meeting space, he saw Michael Ocks, an advisor, assistant, and soon-to-be producer, and unfortunately, what many would call Jerry's illegitimate son.

  -Michael, was everything good? - Jerry asked.

  -Fine, fine, Dad, although the gusts deyed the flights, there were no plications, - Michael Ocks replied. He was a Jerry more simir than he expected, a living image of him in his youth, hair bed to one side, the same demeanor, the same wrihe same reg hairline, and characteristic eyebrows, all from the same mold as Jerry, except for the ears.

  -Don't call me 'Dad' at work, - Jerry said in a low voice. - Take a seat, Billy. We have something important to discuss. -

  Billy raised an eyebrow; the body nguage of the old men seemed like another reprimand, but i 15 days, he had been a good Christian.

  -o meet you! I'm Michael Oclkas, who will fun as yent, representing Jerry, who prefers to focus his efforts on another area that may be more profitable, - Michael said.

  -As Michael said, now what remains is the step... defining your future. I want to define your future and see what the steps are in your private, family, social, business, and interview practices. We o train you to respoo the cameras and avoid saying things that are not allowed. It's better now that you have nothing scheduled until February. However, do we wish to hear your thoughts? What do you want for your future? Do you have pns? Any other hobbies besides music? - Jerry Wrexler said, in a collective nod.

  Afterward, the eyes of the four elders turo Billy with curiosity. Roy uood that he might have been surplus to the meeting, but now he wished to get to know the boy who had been causiions at all the musicerts. They saw Billy take breaths; he was somewhat different, more timid than usual. Only Jerry noticed.

  -Three things. I want to learn to box, just as a hobby to stay fit in a way that doesn't involve pying a team sport, but I don't see myself doing anything else. I'm not good with subjects, so I just want to finish high school with enough honors to get a diploma. I think studying music would be good, but I don't want to fine myself to academics. I think I'd like to learn to py the piano, guitar, and DJ turntables to satisfy my curiosity, and maybe create a record with eleic music. I see it as an iing genre, - Billy said, finishing enunciating all his intimate desires. But deep down in his heart, there was another desire: to be an actor. However, realizing that his music improvement was glorious and had quickly reached most people in ued areas, it was fatal.

  The keyword was "ued." He was good with nguages and spoke better Spanish than before, an effect of singing in Spanish, ohat he would take advantage of. Anuage he could use for learning uese, French, Italian, and perhaps Japanese. After all, getting involved with the anime industry sounded fabulous. He would start with dubbing, with his powerful voice capable of imitating even some voices, it would be a piece of cake for him to do a dubbing course.

  -I would like to do dubbing. I think I have what it takes for that! I speak Spanish and English perfectly, and, well, I mean, I'm good with nguages, and a dubbing course could be good for my career as a future project, you know, to diversify my image, - Billy replied, with some memories of how and why he should be an actor in this life, even if he was just a vase. He didn't care to be the handsome guy, the pyboy, or the one who was only there for his smile. Screw it all; if he was going to be an actor, he might as well be a ercial movie actor. In his previous life always wao be an actor; now he had the fame of music shortly; people like Justin Timberke, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Selena Gomez... all were actors, even The Weeknd dabbled in that field. He could do it ahe handsome guy of Hollywood.

  Billy's resolution began to be clearer as he saw his future self. He just o move forward and do things as he should. He could take songs in seds and record them in seds, no matter from what angle he did it, he could do whatever he wanted as long as they allowed him to do it.

  -All are good ideas. We'll start with your tutor at home, who is already set. You'll have a piano and guitar instructor every afternoon after your private csses and on weekends. You'll take interviews like Michael. I hope you keep up with the lifestyle. If you're polite, you graduate in two years, and once you do, I'll enroll you in an ag course. Do you agree, son? - Jerry asked, noting down Billy's preferences and dislikes.

  -Yes, sir, - said Billy.

  -In June, you'll have certs galore. I hope you give the title you prefer, - Jerry said, enjoying a good justification for leading the young man down the right path. He was bad at studies, clear to both Agustina and himself, but a prodigy in music. They just o assign him a geeacher for his studies and a strie for music.

  -I'll sing. In six months, I'll be twice as good as I am now. However, I take some shifts at bars. I prefer singing in front of an audience, right, - said Billy.

  ...