Deep within the mesmerizing rolling fields, lived a young shepherd. His existence was essentially untarnished, and unsophisticated. His primary duty was mainly to care for his flock of rams.
Their gentle baas and the rustling of the wind among the solo tree on the hilltop were his constant associates. Day in day, guarding his responsibilities inculcated in him a feeling of calm satisfaction.
Yet, there were occasional moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would pine for company. In one such instance because of sheer boredom, the shepherd boy conceived a naughty plan.
Narratives of wild beasts prowling on sheep had been around for a while in the hamlet. So, the boy chose to leveraged this fear and played a joke on the inhabitants.
One morning he raced 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 discovered nothing threatening.
The boy giggled at the puzzle on their faces. This game continued for a couple of more days. Yet, one day, a real wolf did charge at the herd. The shepherd boy dashed for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but managed to protect only check here few of his flock. Heartbroken, he returned to the village only to be met with a scolding on honesty and the results of false alarms.
The story of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the importance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the perils of crying wolf. Moreover, it highlights how trust once lost, is hard to reclaim. It's a story as relevant today as it was anciently.