Deep within the enchanting rolling hills, lived a shepherd boy. His existence was mostly untarnished, simple yet virtuous. His main role was essentially to look after his flock of rams.
Their gentle baas and the murmuring of the breezes across the solo tree on the peak were his main companions. Day in day, looking out for his wards inculcated in him a feeling of calm satisfaction.
However, there were occasional moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would yearn for company. During one such occasion because of sheer tedium, the shepherd boy conceived a troublesome plot.
Narratives of predators hunting on sheep had been around for a while in the town. So, the boy decided to used this fear and played a trick on the inhabitants.
One morning he raced into the village screaming “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The scared villagers ran up the hills to offer assistance but found nothing threatening.
The boy giggled at the puzzle on their faces. This game persisted for a few days more. But, one noon, a real here wolf actually attack the herd. The shepherd boy dashed for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but could protect only few of his sheep. Heartbroken, he went back to the town only to receive a lesson on honesty and the consequences of false alarms.
The story of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the dangers of false alarms. Moreover, it stresses how trust once lost, is tough to earn back. It's a story as pertinent today as it was then.