In the heart of the captivating rolling hills, dwelt a shepherd boy. His life was pure, and unsophisticated. His primary duty was mainly to look after his flock of rams.
Their soft bleating and the whispering of the wind across the solo tree on the hilltop were his main co-dwellers. Day upon day, guarding his responsibilities instilled in him a feeling of tranquil contentment.
However, there were occasional moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would pine for companionship. On one such day out of sheer tedium, the shepherd boy conceived a mischievous scheme.
Tales of wolves prowling on sheep had been around for a while in the hamlet. So, the boy opted to exploit this fear and played a prank on the townsfolk.
One afternoon he dashed into the village shouting “Wolf! There is a wolf that has taken my sheep!” The scared villagers ran up the hills to help but get more info found no beast.
The boy chuckled at the confusion on their faces. This prank continued for a few days more. However, one noon, a real wolf did attack the flock. The shepherd boy dashed for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
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 be met with a scolding on honesty and the results of dishonesty.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the importance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it stresses how trust once lost, is tough to regain. It's a story as appropriate today as it was in the past.