At the center of the captivating rolling fields, lived a boy named Shepherd. His existence was mostly untarnished, and unsophisticated. His main role was mainly to care for his flock of ewes.
Their low murmuring and the murmuring of the wind through the solo tree on the peak were his constant companions. Day in day, looking out for his wards instilled in him a feeling of quiet fulfillment.
However, there were at times moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would long for companionship. During one such occasion out of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy conceived a mischievous scheme.
Tales of wild beasts preying on sheep had been heard times and again in the village. So, the boy opted to used this fear and The shepherd boy story played a prank on the villagers.
One day he raced into the village screaming “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The scared villagers ran up the hills to offer assistance but saw no beast.
The boy giggled at the confusion on their faces. This trick persisted for a few more days. But, 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 responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his sheep. Heartbroken, he went back to the village only to be met with a scolding on honesty and the results of dishonesty.
The story of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the significance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the perils of crying wolf. Moreover, it highlights how trust once violated, is difficult to earn back. It's a story as appropriate today as it was then.