Deep within the mesmerizing rolling fields, resided a young shepherd. His life was pure, and unsophisticated. His only responsibility was to tend to his flock of ewes.
Their soft bleating and the rustling of the wind through the lone tree on the mountaintop were his constant companions. Day upon day, looking out for his charges inculcated in him a notion of quiet fulfillment.
But, there were the occasional moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would yearn for companionship. In one such instance because of sheer tedium, the shepherd boy orchestrated a mischievous scheme.
Stories of predators preying on sheep had been heard times and again in the town. So, the boy decided to exploit this fear and played a trick on the townsfolk.
One morning he dashed into the village yelling “Wolf! There is a wolf that has taken my sheep!” The scared villagers rushed up the hills to offer assistance but saw nothing threatening.
The boy laughed at the confusion on their faces. This game continued for a couple of read more more days. However, one noon, a real wolf did come to prey the flock. The shepherd boy raced for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but managed to protect only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the town only to be met with a reprimand on honesty and the consequences of dishonesty.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the significance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the risks of crying wolf. Moreover, it stresses how trust once broken, is tough to reclaim. It's a story as pertinent today as it was then.