In the heart of the enchanting rolling meadows, dwelt a boy named Shepherd. His existence was essentially unadulterated, simple yet virtuous. His only responsibility was mainly to look after his flock of sheep.
Their soft bleating and the whispering of the wind through the solo tree website on the hilltop were his only companions. Day after day, watching over his wards inculcated in him a notion of calm satisfaction.
However, there were the occasional moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would yearn for fellowship. On one such day from sheer tedium, the shepherd boy conceived a naughty plot.
Narratives of wild beasts preying on sheep had been heard times and again in the hamlet. So, the boy opted to leveraged this fear and played a prank on the villagers.
One afternoon he raced into the village shouting “Wolf! There is a wolf preying on my sheep!” The scared villagers ran up the hills for rescue but found nothing threatening.
The boy giggled at the confusion on their faces. This trick persisted for a few more days. But, one day, a real wolf did charge at the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy ran for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but could protect only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he went back to the town only to be met with a reprimand on honesty and the results of dishonesty.
The story of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the significance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the risks of crying wolf. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once violated, is difficult to earn back. It's a story as appropriate today as it was in the past.