In the heart of the mesmerizing rolling fields, lived a shepherd boy. His being was essentially untarnished, simple, and honest. His main role was to tend to his herd of rams.
Their gentle baas and the whispering of the wind among the solo tree on the mountaintop were his constant co-dwellers. Day upon day, guarding his wards imbued in him a sense of tranquil contentment.
Yet, there were at times moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would yearn for company. During one such occasion from sheer tedium, the shepherd boy orchestrated a naughty plan.
Narratives of wolves prowling on sheep had been heard times and again in the town. So, the boy opted to leveraged this fear and played a prank on the villagers.
One afternoon he dashed into the village shouting “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The terrified villagers ran up the hills for rescue but discovered no wolf.
The boy chuckled at the confusion on their faces. This game persisted for a few days more. But, one morning, a real wolf did charge at the flock. The shepherd boy dashed for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but managed to protect only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he returned to the village only to receive a scolding on honesty and the results of dishonesty.
The story of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as more info a mediaeval parable to teaching the importance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the perils of false alarms. Moreover, it stresses how trust once broken, is tough to earn back. It's a story as pertinent today as it was anciently.