At the center of the mesmerizing rolling hills, resided a young shepherd. His being was unadulterated, read more simple yet virtuous. His primary duty was to look after his flock of ewes.
Their soft bleating and the murmuring of the gales across the solo tree on the hilltop were his only companions. Day after day, looking out for his responsibilities inculcated in him a feeling of tranquil contentment.
Yet, there were occasional moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would pine for companionship. During one such occasion because of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy orchestrated a naughty scheme.
Tales of wolves preying on sheep had long been circulating in the village. So, the boy chose to leveraged this fear and played a prank on the townsfolk.
One morning he ran into the village screaming “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The frightened villagers sprinted up the hills for rescue but found nothing threatening.
The boy laughed at the dilemma on their faces. This game laughed for a few more days. Yet, one morning, a real wolf actually come to prey the flock. The shepherd boy ran for help, 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. Devastated, he returned to the town only to receive a scolding on honesty and the repercussions of crying wolf.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the perils of false alarms. Moreover, it highlights how trust once violated, is difficult to reclaim. It's a story as appropriate today as it was anciently.