In the heart of the enchanting rolling hills, lived a boy named Shepherd. His life was essentially unadulterated, simple yet virtuous. His only responsibility was essentially to look after his flock of sheep.
Their soft bleating and the whispering of the gales through the solo tree on the mountaintop were his only associates. Day after day, watching over his wards imbued in him a sense of quiet fulfillment.
Yet, there were the occasional moments of isolation, The shepherd boy story when the shepherd boy would pine for company. During one such occasion out of sheer tedium, the shepherd boy devised a troublesome plan.
Narratives of predators hunting on sheep had been around for a while in the town. So, the boy opted to exploit this fear and played a joke on the townsfolk.
One morning he ran into the village screaming “Wolf! There is a wolf preying on my sheep!” The terrified villagers rushed up the hills to offer assistance but discovered no wolf.
The boy laughed at the dilemma on their faces. This game laughed for a couple of more days. Yet, one morning, a real wolf actually come to prey the herd. The shepherd boy dashed for help, 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. Heartbroken, he returned to the town only to receive a scolding on honesty and the repercussions of dishonesty.
The story of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the perils of crying wolf. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once lost, is hard to regain. It's a story as appropriate today as it was anciently.