Being Like - Flash Fiction
- Greg Luti
- May 16
- 3 min read
Updated: May 19
A flash fiction story can explore the difference between celebrity and true greatness. In “Being Like,” Greg Luti follows a high school student who chooses Michael Jackson as his role model for fame and talent — until his teacher introduces him to the ancient Roman hero Cincinnatus, who chose a very different path.
A high school student stood at the door of the classroom waiting to see where his teacher was in the room. The teacher was helping two other students in extra help, who had not understood the lesson from earlier in the day.
The newly arrived student was to write about a person he wished to be like. The teacher asked this of every student who took his class, and because this student missed the assignment, the teacher asked the student to go to extra help in order for the work to be done.
The teacher felt this was just as effective as giving the student the work to do on his own at home, since the teacher was already in the classroom giving extra help to two other students.
The teacher stopped his review with his extra students to address the student who was to write up the paper.
“You are here to write up a little something for me. Go sit down, and I will get you some paper.” He went to get a paper and a pencil for the student. He walked over to the desk where the student sat and handed him the paper and pencil. “Okay, here is the deal: you are to write up a response to the question as to who you want to be like. Write as many words as you, okay? We can take a second to talk about this, or you can jump right into it.”
“I want to be like Michael Jackson.” The student quickly responded. “Man, that guy had it all. He was popular. He made all those songs. He could dance. He could sing. How cool would it be to be him?”
The teacher chuckled at the student wanting to be like the musician who had been dead as long as he had been alive. He motioned for the other two students who were there for extra help to continue with their work.
“Don’t wish to be like that man, but strive for something better.” He instructed the student who was to write the paper.
“Who is better than Michael Jackson?”
“Have you ever heard of Cincinnatus?”
“You mean Cincinnati?”
“No, Cincinnatus.” He shook his head, knowing the student didn’t know of the myth. “The story is that he was a well-respected Roman general. One day, when the city needed him, he took up the role of general of the army and led them into battle. He won and helped the city from being invaded. He saved the city. Do you know what he did when the battle was won?”
“Probably become king for real.” The student shrugged his shoulders.
“He went back to his farm. He gave up his crown and let the people decide what was best for the nation. For no man, no matter how big, is too great to walk away from it all. Be so great that when the time calls, the world asks you for help. But also be humble enough that when they wish to make you king, you walk away and go back into obscurity. There is nothing wrong with not wanting fame or seeking fortune.” He spoke the last line to himself as much as to the student, “Sometimes the best way to win the game is by not playing at all.”
The student sat there, only half listening. “I am going to write about Michael Jackson.”
“Fair enough.”
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