ENTERED INTO THE
750 WORD PROJECT 2024
A generous acknowledgement to member AlexBailey for your invaluable advice and edits in helping this story come to life. Thank You!
*
"Mr. D'Angelo? How you doing in there, sir?"
"Fine, Joel, anyone have some water?"
"Water, please!" requested the sound technician, "You ready for another take?"
"Yeah, count me down."
"Ok,
Untitled
, take 27 in 3, 2, 1."
(Music builds from slow intro...)
🎵Girl, it's only you. Have it your way...🎵
"Sorry everybody," D'Angelo stopped singing, "Just feelin' like my inner voice is backed up and I'm sounding a bit flat."
"No problem, sir," Joel said into the intercom from the recording booth, "Take your time and let us know whenever you're ready."
"He can't hear us, right?" interrupted Max Austin.
"No, sir," replied Joel, "We're muted. Mr. D'Angelo can only see us."
Austin smiled broadly and gestured a friendly wave towards D'Angelo while saying through clenched teeth, "Why'd you fuckin' tell him that? Are you blind, Joel? Don't you see what's all around you? I've got people here with cameras trying to get this song down and taped with a video. I've got big monied interests back at the label that I gotta answer to! Its sunny and 82° in L.A. today. I should be at my pool having my Guatemalan servant shakin' his ass and bringing me margaritas! There was nothing wrong with all the previous takes. I need you to stop acting like a caring, coddling babysitter, costing me money, and start laying this damned track and video!"
"Sir, I've worked with Mr. D'Angelo from the start. He knows his voice and once he gets comfortable you'll see the difference."
"Yeah, he has been a bit flat," chimed in Austin's assistant.
"Wes? When did I start paying you to be a voice coach?" Austin seethed, "Shut the fuck up!"
"Max, it's a freakin' great song. Guaranteed to climb the charts!" stated Wes, "And D'Angelo's the one to deliver it. Be patient. I may have a solution."
"Is everything alright in there?" asked D'Angelo.
"Everything's fine," replied Joel.
"Take a break, ok? We're just having some technical difficulties on this end," Austin soothed with a toothy grin. He then turned pressing the mute button, "Let's hear your fucking solution, Wes!"
________
Dallas Fontana strutted into the studio with all the pompous flair, glitter, and glam befitting a drag-queen of her stature.
"Who da fuck..." began Austin.
"Shhhhhhh," shushed Dallas, placing a manicured finger over Austin's lips, "My babyboo, Wesley, tells me you've gotta problem my talents are suited to fix."
Wes bashfully smiled from a corner waving as Dallas blew him a kiss.