Deep within the enchanting rolling fields, lived a young shepherd. His being was mostly unadulterated, simple, and honest. His main role was mainly to care for his herd of rams.
Their soft bleating and the whispering of the breezes among the lone tree here on the peak were his constant companions. Day upon day, looking out for his responsibilities instilled in him a notion of tranquil contentment.
But, there were the occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would yearn for companionship. In one such instance because of sheer boredom, the shepherd boy devised a troublesome scheme.
Tales of wild beasts prowling on sheep had been heard times and again in the village. So, the boy chose to exploit this fear and played a joke on the townsfolk.
One afternoon he raced into the village screaming “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The terrified villagers sprinted up the hills to help but found no beast.
The boy chuckled at the puzzle on their faces. This prank persisted for a couple of more days. Yet, one day, a real wolf actually come to prey the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy ran for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his flock. Devastated, he returned to the town only to receive a reprimand on honesty and the consequences of dishonesty.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the value of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the risks of crying wolf. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once violated, is difficult to regain. It's a story as pertinent today as it was then.