At the center of the mesmerizing rolling fields, lived a shepherd boy. His existence was essentially pure, simple yet virtuous. His primary duty was mainly to look after his flock of sheep.
Their gentle baas and the murmuring of the gales through the single tree on the hilltop were his only companions. Day upon day, looking out for his responsibilities inculcated in him a notion of quiet fulfillment.
Yet, there were the occasional moments here of solitude, when the shepherd boy would pine for companionship. In one such instance out of sheer boredom, the shepherd boy devised a troublesome plot.
Narratives of predators prowling on sheep had long been circulating in the town. So, the boy opted to used this fear and played a prank on the townsfolk.
One afternoon he ran into the village yelling “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The scared villagers rushed up the hills to offer assistance but found no wolf.
The boy giggled at the confusion on their faces. This game continued for a couple of more days. Yet, one morning, a real wolf did come to prey the herd. The shepherd boy raced for aid screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but could rescue only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he returned to the village only to be met with a reprimand on honesty and the results of false alarms.
His tale of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the dangers of crying wolf. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once violated, is tough to regain. It's a story as relevant today as it was in the past.