In the heart of the mesmerizing rolling hills, dwelt a boy named Shepherd. His existence was mostly pure, and unsophisticated. His main role was mainly to care for his herd of rams.
Their low murmuring and the murmuring of the breezes across the lone tree on the peak were his constant co-dwellers. Day upon day, guarding his responsibilities imbued in him a sense of calm satisfaction.
Yet, there were at times moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would long for company. In one such instance out of sheer tedium, the shepherd boy orchestrated a troublesome plan.
Stories of wolves prowling on sheep had been heard times and again in the hamlet. So, the boy decided to exploit this fear and played a trick on the villagers.
One morning he ran into the village shouting “Wolf! There is a wolf that has taken my sheep!” The frightened villagers rushed up the hills for rescue but discovered no beast.
The boy laughed at the puzzle on their faces. This game persisted for a few more days. Yet, one morning, a real wolf actually come to prey the flock. The shepherd boy dashed for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but managed to protect only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the village only to receive a scolding on honesty and the consequences of false alarms.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value here of honesty, the consequences of lying and the dangers of crying wolf. Moreover, it highlights how trust once violated, is tough to reclaim. It's a story as relevant today as it was in the past.