Deep within the captivating rolling hills, dwelt a shepherd boy. His life was essentially untarnished, and unsophisticated. His primary duty was mainly to tend to his flock of sheep.
Their soft bleating and the whispering of the wind across the solo tree on the mountaintop were his main companions. Day in day, watching over his charges imbued in him a sense of calm satisfaction.
Yet, there were occasional moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would pine for company. In one such instance out of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy conceived a mischievous scheme.
Narratives of wolves prowling on sheep had long been circulating in the town. So, the boy opted to exploit this fear and played a joke on the inhabitants.
One morning he ran into the village shouting “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The terrified villagers ran up the hills to help but found no wolf.
The boy giggled at the confusion on their faces. This game laughed for a few more days. Yet, one morning, a real wolf actually charge at the herd. The shepherd boy raced for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but managed to protect only few of his sheep. Devastated, here he returned to the town only to be met with a scolding on honesty and the results of dishonesty.
The story of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the perils of crying wolf. Moreover, it highlights how trust once broken, is difficult to regain. It's a story as pertinent today as it was in the past.