Deep within the captivating rolling meadows, lived a shepherd boy. His existence was pure, simple yet virtuous. His main role was to care for his flock of sheep.
Their soft bleating and the rustling of the breezes among the solo tree on the mountaintop were his only associates. Day in day, looking out for his wards inculcated in him a notion of quiet fulfillment.
Yet, there were at times moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would yearn for companionship. During one such occasion out of sheer boredom, the shepherd boy orchestrated a mischievous plan.
Narratives of predators preying on sheep had been heard times and again in the hamlet. So, the boy decided to leveraged this fear and played a trick on the townsfolk.
One afternoon he ran into the village yelling “Wolf! There is a wolf that has taken my sheep!” The frightened villagers sprinted up the hills to help but saw no beast.
The boy laughed at the puzzle on their faces. This prank laughed here for a couple of more days. However, one morning, a real wolf actually attack the herd. The shepherd boy dashed for aid shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but managed to protect only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the village only to be met with a scolding on honesty and the consequences of crying wolf.
The story of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the significance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the dangers of false alarms. Moreover, it stresses how trust once lost, is difficult to earn back. It's a story as relevant today as it was then.