In the heart of the mesmerizing rolling hills, resided a shepherd boy. His existence was untarnished, simple, and honest. His only responsibility was to tend to his flock of sheep.
Their soft bleating and the rustling of the breezes among the lone tree on the hilltop were his only co-dwellers. Day after day, guarding his responsibilities instilled in him a notion of calm satisfaction.
But, there were at times moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would yearn for companionship. On one such website day out of sheer tedium, the shepherd boy devised a mischievous plot.
Tales of predators preying on sheep had long been circulating in the hamlet. So, the boy opted to used this fear and played a prank on the inhabitants.
One day he ran into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The scared villagers ran up the hills to offer assistance but discovered no beast.
The boy laughed at the puzzle on their faces. This trick persisted for a few more days. Yet, one morning, a real wolf actually charge at the herd. The shepherd boy ran for aid shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but could rescue only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he returned to the town only to receive a scolding on honesty and the consequences of dishonesty.
His tale of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the significance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it stresses how trust once broken, is hard to earn back. It's a story as relevant today as it was in the past.