Deep within the mesmerizing rolling fields, dwelt a young shepherd. His life was unadulterated, simple, and honest. His only responsibility was to look after his herd of rams.
Their gentle baas and the whispering of the wind through the solo tree on the peak were his only associates. Day in day, looking out for his responsibilities inculcated in him a sense of calm satisfaction.
But, there were the occasional moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would pine for companionship. On one such day because of sheer tedium, the shepherd boy orchestrated a troublesome plan.
Stories of wild beasts hunting on sheep had been heard times and again in the hamlet. So, the boy opted to used this fear and played a joke on the inhabitants.
One morning he raced into the village yelling “Wolf! There is a wolf preying on my sheep!” The terrified villagers sprinted up the hills for rescue but discovered no beast.
The boy chuckled at the puzzle on their faces. This prank laughed for a few days more. But, one morning, a real The shepherd boy story wolf did come to prey the flock. The shepherd boy raced for help, shouting “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 sheep. Heartbroken, he returned to the town only to be met with a reprimand on honesty and the results of false alarms.
The tale 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 broken, is difficult to reclaim. It's a story as appropriate today as it was then.