At the center of the captivating rolling fields, resided a shepherd boy. His being was pure, simple yet virtuous. His main role was to care for his herd of sheep.
Their soft bleating and the whispering of the breezes through the single tree on the mountaintop were his constant companions. Day upon day, looking out for his wards imbued in him a notion of quiet fulfillment.
But, there were the occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would pine for companionship. On one such day from sheer boredom, the shepherd boy devised a naughty scheme.
Tales of predators preying read more on sheep had been heard times and again in the town. So, the boy chose to used this fear and played a trick on the townsfolk.
One afternoon he raced into the village yelling “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The frightened villagers rushed up the hills for rescue but saw no wolf.
The boy laughed at the confusion on their faces. This prank continued for a few days more. However, one noon, a real wolf did attack the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy dashed for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but managed to protect only few of his flock. Devastated, he returned to the town only to receive a lesson on honesty and the repercussions of crying wolf.
His tale 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 crying wolf. Moreover, it highlights how trust once broken, is hard to earn back. It's a story as relevant today as it was in the past.