The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf

As Aoife leaves the family HQ, she steps into the brisk New York air. Looking up to the Sun, she basks in the glow of springtime. Strolling quickly down the city streets, her mind wanders back to a simpler time.

As she travels back to the past, she remembers lying on her small bed, night covers pulled up to her chin as her sweet mother tells her a bedtime story. Some nights, mama would pull out the book of fables and read, other nights she would entertain Aoife with stories she either made up, or those which were passed down from past generations. Always, they came with a moral, and she would stare up in wide eyed wonder as the words flowed from her mother's lips effortlessly.

"Once upon a time, in a village far away, there lived a young lad of about 13 or so. He had a job tending the local sheep.

Day after day he took the sheep miles away, over the hill, where they could graze, and wander as they pleased. The boy became bored, after a fashion and began to daydream. Day after day, he continued to take the sheep far from the town, and day after day he became more disillusioned with his position in this world. No one took him seriously, and he began to feel unloved and unwanted.

During one of his many daydreams, he began to formulate a plan for making himself a hero, and in his juvenile mind it made all the sense in the world."

Aoife looks up at her mother in all seriousness, and said, "This doesn't end well, does it mama?"

Her mother smiles mysteriously and continues,

"The boy took the sheep one morning, and just as they had settled in, he went to the top of the hill that was closest to the city, and blew his bugle loudly. He blew and blew until his face was turning purple. The village people heard the commotion and ran into the street and followed the deafening noise. As they came into his sight, the boy shouted 'Wolf, wolf!' The good people ran as fast as they could to help the boy save the sheep, but upon arrival, they discovered there was not a wolf after all.

After chastising the boy soundly, and satisfied that they had made an impression on him, they headed back to their own work in the village.

But the boy had not learned his lesson, and he repeated the hoax again the next day. This time, only about half the people showed up, and once again scolding him severely, they headed back to the village.

The youngster continued to play out the same game for about a week. Then one particularly hot day, he trudged up the hill with the sheep. He was out of breath and quite exhausted, and had it in his mind to take a little nap. As he looked around for a place to lie down, he heard a low growling sound. He looked up, and there stood the biggest most terrifying wolf he had ever seen in his life. At first he ran in circles, not quite sure what to do, the wolf preyed on some of the lambs. The boy then quickly pulled out his horn and began to blow. He continued on and on, but no one came. He then began to scream at the top of his lungs, 'Wolf! Wolf!' The villagers heard his racket in the distance, but they just ignored him, sighing at yet another attempt to get their attention.

The youngster begins to tire, and as he does, the wolf sees opportunity and pounces on him. As he struggles, he lets out sickening screams. The townspeople continue to ignore him."

Aoife looks up at her mother and asks, "What happened to him, mama?"

"No one knows, and to tell you the truth, no one really cares."

Aoife remembers the look on her mother's face as she finishes the story and kisses her young daughter good night. She kept the lesson close to her heart, and she knows that it is still relevant today.

Brilliant version of a timeless classic (in my mind). Well done!!!

very entertaining :)

Enjoyable :)

Classic.

Was worth the read! Grazzi!

Nice classic enjoyed the read.