At the center of the mesmerizing rolling hills, dwelt a young shepherd. His life was essentially unadulterated, simple yet virtuous. His only responsibility was mainly to look after his flock of rams.
Their here gentle baas and the whispering of the wind among the solo tree on the mountaintop were his constant companions. Day in day, watching over his charges imbued in him a feeling of tranquil contentment.
However, there were occasional moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would pine for companionship. In one such instance because of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy devised a troublesome plan.
Tales of predators hunting on sheep had been around for a while in the town. So, the boy chose to leveraged this fear and played a prank on the townsfolk.
One morning he raced into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The frightened villagers ran up the hills for rescue but saw no wolf.
The boy chuckled at the puzzle on their faces. This prank persisted for a couple of more days. But, one day, a real wolf actually attack the herd. The shepherd boy dashed for help, shouting “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 went back to the village only to be met with a reprimand on honesty and the consequences of crying wolf.
The story of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the dangers of false alarms. Moreover, it stresses how trust once broken, is difficult to earn back. It's a story as relevant today as it was in the past.