In the heart of the mesmerizing rolling hills, dwelt a boy named Shepherd. His existence was essentially pure, and unsophisticated. His only responsibility was mainly to care for his flock of rams.
Their gentle baas and the murmuring of the breezes among the single tree on the hilltop were his only associates. Day in day, looking out for his responsibilities instilled in him a feeling of tranquil contentment.
Yet, there were the occasional moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would long for company. In one such instance from sheer monotony, the shepherd boy conceived a troublesome here plan.
Tales of wolves hunting on sheep had long been circulating in the village. So, the boy opted to exploit this fear and played a joke on the inhabitants.
One morning he raced into the village shouting “Wolf! A wolf is that has taken my sheep!” The terrified villagers rushed up the hills for rescue but found no beast.
The boy chuckled at the puzzle on their faces. This prank persisted for a few days more. But, one day, a real wolf actually attack the flock. The shepherd boy raced for aid shouting “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 sheep. Heartbroken, he went back to the village only to receive a lesson on honesty and the repercussions of false alarms.
The story of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the perils of crying wolf. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once broken, is tough to regain. It's a story as appropriate today as it was anciently.