At the center of the mesmerizing rolling hills, resided a young shepherd. His existence was pure, and unsophisticated. His main role was essentially to look after his flock of rams.
Their soft bleating and the rustling of the gales through the single tree on the peak were his main associates. Day in day, guarding his responsibilities imbued in him a sense of calm satisfaction.
But, there were the occasional moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would yearn for companionship. During one such occasion because of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy conceived a mischievous scheme.
Narratives of wolves preying on sheep had been around for a while in the village. So, the boy opted to leveraged this fear and played a prank on the townsfolk.
One day he dashed into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is preying on my sheep!” The frightened villagers ran up the hills for rescue but discovered nothing threatening.
The boy chuckled at the dilemma on their faces. This trick laughed for a couple of more days. However, one noon, a real wolf actually charge at the herd. The shepherd boy ran for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no here one showed up.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but could protect only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he went back to the village only to receive a lesson on honesty and the results of dishonesty.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the perils of crying wolf. Moreover, it highlights how trust once broken, is tough to regain. It's a story as relevant today as it was anciently.