In the heart of the mesmerizing rolling fields, lived a young shepherd. His life was essentially unadulterated, and unsophisticated. His main role was to look after his flock of sheep.
Their gentle baas and the murmuring of the gales through the solo tree on the mountaintop were his constant companions. Day in day, guarding his responsibilities inculcated in him a notion of calm satisfaction.
But, there were occasional moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would yearn for companionship. In one such instance out of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy orchestrated a naughty plan.
Stories of wolves prowling on sheep had been around for a while in the town. So, the boy decided to leveraged this fear and played a prank on the inhabitants.
One day he raced into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The frightened villagers ran up the hills to offer assistance but discovered no wolf.
The boy laughed at the dilemma on their faces. This game laughed for a few days more. Yet, one noon, a real wolf actually come to prey the herd. The shepherd boy ran for aid shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the town only to be met here with a scolding on honesty and the repercussions of crying wolf.
His tale of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the significance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the dangers of crying wolf. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once lost, is tough to regain. It's a story as appropriate today as it was then.