Weston's songbook is overflowing; in fact, he's going to have to start a new book to begin writing new songs. He's lost count of how many he's written; he spent many years writing nonstop. Although he doesn't remember the exact number, he knows them all by heart, the lyrics and their titles. Each song was written at a special or specific moment in his life, when experiences and observations motivated him to write. You could say that the songbook is his life told through music.
The songs themselves are very good and made with great dedication and love; surely, if someone sang them, they would go far. But that's the problem: no one has ever sung one of Weston's songs. The reasons for this are many and varied, but together they are the reasons why time has prevented them from seeing the light of day. To begin with, Weston lives in Kustan, a place with practically no musical culture. It's not that people don't like music, it's that nobody is interested in being a singer. So who's going to want Weston's songs to sing? Exactly, nobody.
The simple fact that he hasn't found anyone who wants to sing them is the main reason why none of his songs have ever seen the light of day. He's put in a lot of effort to explore options, he's traveled, he's contacted singers he knows, but none of them have liked his songwriting, despite it being very good. It's a great tragedy when these things leave talent in obscurity.
...Free image from Pixabay...
Despite everything, Weston doesn't care at all that his work has only just come to fruition, because he doesn't do it out of obligation or because he needs it to live. He actually writes songs as a way to vent about the things he sees and the experiences he's had. It's almost his personal musical diary. It comes naturally to him, and he hopes that one day someone will sing them, but he's in no hurry; it will be the right person. Since he can't make a living from music, he mainly works as a repair technician, fixing burned-out water turbines.
That job allows him to support himself and pay his bills, leaving songwriting as a mere hobby. No one who sees him repairing turbines in his workshop would ever imagine that he's a songwriter; it's quite funny, after all. Of course, not being able to make a living from what he loves and the years of writing without recognition do take their toll, let's not kid ourselves. He's always secretly longed to see some of his work come to life on paper. It's a somewhat complicated feeling to describe; he's content with what he does, but he longs for something more.
It doesn't matter; life must go on. The rest will come later, in its own time. He continued his work as a turbine technician. Someone called him at his workshop to say that one of their turbines had just burned out at home and asked if he could come and repair it. Weston went immediately, and sure enough, it was burned out. He picked it up and told the owner to come and get it. The owner was a man who had just moved to town. Nobody knew him. About two days later, the engine was repaired, and Weston called this man, whose name was Mack, to come to the workshop to pick it up.
...Free image from Pixabay...
While Mack was on his way to the workshop, Weston took advantage of the time to start writing a new song he had in mind right there in the workshop. It was already quite far along, and just as he was finishing writing, Mack arrived to pick up the turbine. He paid him for the work but gave him a larger bill, so Weston had to give him the change. While Weston went to get the change, Mack started reading the songbook that was on the table. And he loved what he saw. He was a singer who had just moved and was frustrated because he had nothing to sing. But with that book, he had everything he needed.
When Weston returned with the change, he saw Mack beaming. And he told him everything. From that day on, they began a very close working relationship. Mack took charge of bringing to life the songs he had been writing for years. It was like unearthing a hidden treasure. It was what Weston had been waiting for. And to know that it all started with a turbine. They became very good friends and very successful. Success almost always comes late, but it does come, and that's what matters.
...Free image from Pixabay...