At the center of the captivating rolling meadows, lived a shepherd boy. His being was essentially unadulterated, simple, and honest. His main role was mainly to care for his flock of sheep.
Their soft bleating and the murmuring of the gales across the lone tree on the peak read more were his main companions. Day upon day, watching over his wards inculcated in him a feeling of tranquil contentment.
However, there were occasional moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would pine for fellowship. In one such instance because of sheer tedium, the shepherd boy orchestrated a naughty plan.
Stories of wild beasts hunting on sheep had been heard times and again in the town. So, the boy chose to used this fear and played a prank on the inhabitants.
One day he raced into the village shouting “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The frightened villagers rushed up the hills to offer assistance but saw no beast.
The boy chuckled at the puzzle on their faces. This trick continued for a couple of more days. However, one morning, a real wolf did charge at the flock. The shepherd boy dashed for aid screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.
Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he returned to the town only to receive a reprimand on honesty and the consequences of false alarms.
The story of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the significance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the perils of false alarms. Moreover, it stresses how trust once violated, is tough to regain. It's a story as relevant today as it was in the past.