In the heart of the mesmerizing rolling hills, resided a young shepherd. His being was essentially unadulterated, simple yet virtuous. His only responsibility was to care for his herd of sheep.
Their low murmuring and the whispering of the here breezes among the single tree on the hilltop were his constant companions. Day after day, looking out for his responsibilities inculcated in him a notion of tranquil contentment.
However, there were at times moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would long for fellowship. In one such instance from sheer tedium, the shepherd boy devised a naughty scheme.
Tales of predators prowling on sheep had been heard times and again in the town. So, the boy chose to leveraged this fear and played a prank on the inhabitants.
One morning he ran into the village screaming “Wolf! There is a wolf preying on 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 trick persisted for a couple of more days. However, one day, a real wolf did attack the herd. The shepherd boy dashed for aid screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but managed to protect only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he returned to the village only to be met with a reprimand on honesty and the results of false alarms.
His tale of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the significance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the perils of crying wolf. Moreover, it highlights how trust once broken, is hard to regain. It's a story as appropriate today as it was in the past.