In the heart of the captivating rolling hills, lived a shepherd boy. His being was essentially unadulterated, and unsophisticated. His only responsibility was to look after his flock of sheep.
Their soft bleating and the rustling of the breezes among the lone tree on the peak were his only companions. Day upon day, watching over his charges imbued in him a sense of tranquil contentment.
Yet, there were at times moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would pine for fellowship. On one such day from sheer tedium, the shepherd boy conceived a mischievous plot.
Narratives of wild beasts prowling on sheep had been heard times and again in the village. So, the boy chose to used this fear and played a trick on the villagers.
One afternoon he ran into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is that has taken my sheep!” The frightened villagers rushed up the hills to offer assistance but saw no wolf.
The boy laughed at the dilemma on their faces. This prank persisted for a few more days. But, one noon, a real wolf actually come to prey the herd. The shepherd boy ran for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but could rescue only few of his here sheep. Devastated, he went back to the town only to be met with a lesson on honesty and the results of false alarms.
The story 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 false alarms. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once broken, is hard to reclaim. It's a story as pertinent today as it was in the past.