In the heart of the enchanting rolling fields, resided a boy named Shepherd. His existence was unadulterated, simple, and honest. His main role was to care for his herd of sheep.
Their soft bleating and the whispering of the breezes among the single tree on the hilltop were his constant co-dwellers. Day after day, guarding more info his wards inculcated in him a notion of calm satisfaction.
Yet, there were at times moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would yearn for companionship. On one such day out of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy conceived a mischievous plan.
Stories of predators hunting on sheep had been around for a while in the hamlet. So, the boy decided to exploit this fear and played a trick on the villagers.
One afternoon he ran into the village shouting “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The scared villagers rushed up the hills to offer assistance but discovered no wolf.
The boy laughed at the dilemma on their faces. This prank laughed for a few more days. However, one day, a real wolf did attack the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy dashed for aid shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but could rescue only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he went back to the town only to be met with a reprimand on honesty and the results of crying wolf.
The story 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 perils of false alarms. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once violated, is hard to regain. It's a story as relevant today as it was in the past.