Narrative of the Young Shepherd

At the center of the mesmerizing rolling fields, lived a young shepherd. His life was essentially pure, and unsophisticated. His only responsibility was mainly to tend to his flock of rams.

Their gentle baas and the murmuring of the wind across the solo tree on the peak were his main co-dwellers. Day upon day, guarding his responsibilities inculcated in him a feeling of tranquil contentment.

Yet, there were at times moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would yearn for fellowship. On one such day out of sheer boredom, the shepherd boy orchestrated a naughty scheme.

Stories of wolves hunting on sheep had been heard times and again in the village. So, the boy opted to exploit this fear and played a prank on the villagers.

One day he ran into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is preying on my sheep!” The scared villagers sprinted up the hills to help but saw nothing threatening.

The boy chuckled at the puzzle on their faces. This prank continued for a few days more. Yet, one day, a real wolf did attack the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy here dashed for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.

Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but could protect only few of his sheep. Devastated, he went back to the village only to be met with a scolding on honesty and the results of false alarms.

The story of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the significance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the perils of crying wolf. Moreover, it highlights how trust once lost, is tough to regain. It's a story as relevant today as it was in the past.