Deep within the captivating rolling hills, dwelt a young shepherd. His existence was mostly unadulterated, simple yet virtuous. His only responsibility was essentially to look after his herd of sheep.
Their gentle baas and the whispering of the wind through the lone tree on the hilltop were his constant co-dwellers. Day after day, looking out for his wards inculcated in him a feeling of quiet fulfillment.
But, there were the occasional moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would pine for fellowship. In one such instance because of sheer boredom, the shepherd boy devised a mischievous plot.
Stories of wild beasts hunting on sheep had been around for a while in the town. So, the boy chose to exploit this fear and played a trick on the inhabitants.
One afternoon he raced into the village yelling “Wolf! There is a read more wolf preying on my sheep!” The frightened villagers ran up the hills for rescue but saw no beast.
The boy laughed at the dilemma on their faces. This prank laughed for a couple of more days. Yet, one noon, a real wolf did charge at the flock. The shepherd boy dashed for aid screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but could protect only few of his flock. Devastated, he returned to the village only to receive a reprimand on honesty and the repercussions of false alarms.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it highlights how trust once broken, is tough to reclaim. It's a story as appropriate today as it was then.