Time And Time Again

1

Chuck sat hunched over at his piano, furiously tapping his pen against his temple
He had to come up with something. He was desperate. For something, anything. He needed to put out an album, some kind of collaboration, hell even a single at this point.
Anything to try to catch his career.
But he just couldn't think straight.
His phone rang.
He glanced at the screen, eyebrows furrowing in annoyance.
It was his agent, Francesca.
He reluctantly answered it, mentally preparing to be lectured.
Chuck knew that she was well aware of his current situation as a musician. And well aware of the fact that his failure to come up with any good new music was costing her time and money.
"So, what've you got?"
Shit. He hadn’t come up with anything. Not a melody, not a word. Nothing.  What was he supposed to say? ‘Sorry, Fran, I’ve been sitting my ass for the last three hours and I haven’t come up with anything’?
After a long pause, he finally responded.
"Yeah, I've got something in mind. But it might take a while so maybe we should just schedule a tour for now?
Almost immediately the agent cut him off with a rude cackle.
"A tour? Do you really think anyone wants to pay to see you after those last few albums?"
"Well I just..."
"You haven't even been on the Top 25  in over a year now. You haven't put out any new music. You need to get your act together or you're going to end up with all of the other one hit wonders. And you don't want that, Letterman."
"It'll be done soon!" the panicked musician exclaimed.
"But I gotta let you go do I can work on it. See ya, can't wait to work on this song some more!"
The line clicked dead and he held his head in his hands, his elbows resting on the keys of the grand piano.
He then threw himself off the bench and made his way towards the couch, defeated.
He grabbed the remote and turned the television on as he relaxed back into the leather  cushions.
Maybe some good old fashioned celebrity gossip could grant him some quick inspiration?
A list of top tours of the year; Most were recognizable artists and bands; Lady Gaga, and KISS, and Metallica.
It was the sixth group on the list that caught his attention.
"RED HEADED STEPCHILD”
He'd heard the name thrown around here and there, but he'd always assumed they were just another failed pop band soon to break up and become waiters and bartenders and God only knows what else. He couldn’t even remember the name of the lead singer.
But apparently, somehow they'd managed to climb up from the bottom and end up on the list of most anticipated tours?!
For some reason it angered him.
He was the Chuck Letterman. For years, he'd been at the top of the charts. He was a hardworking solo artist with a hell of a voice and a knack for songwriting. At least in his earlier days. He wasn’t sure what he was now.
With a huff, made his way back towards the piano to try to write, leaving the television on for background noise. Maybe it'd help him feel less alone.