The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Once upon a time, a boy named Niko looked after the sheep for his village. Every morning, he took them up the green hill, and every evening he brought them home. The sheep munched the grass. The clouds drifted by. Niko played his little flute. And the days were very, very quiet. "Nothing ever happens up here," sighed Niko. "I'm so bored."

One day, Niko had an idea. A naughty idea. He stood on a rock, cupped his hands around his mouth, and shouted, "Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is chasing the sheep!" Down in the village, the people dropped their tools. The baker dropped his bread. The farmer dropped his rake. They grabbed sticks and ran up the hill as fast as they could, huffing and puffing.

When they reached the top, they looked all around. There was no wolf! The sheep were munching grass happily. And Niko was rolling in the grass, laughing. "Ha ha! There's no wolf! I tricked you!" The villagers were not happy at all. "That wasn't funny, Niko," said the baker. "We left our work to help you." And they walked back down the hill, shaking their heads.

A few days later, Niko was bored again. "Wolf! Wolf!" he shouted. "Help! A wolf!" Once again, the villagers dropped everything and ran up the hill. And once again, there was no wolf. Just Niko, laughing. "Fooled you again!" This time, the villagers were very cross. "If you tell lies," said the old shepherd, "nobody will believe you when you tell the truth." But Niko only shrugged.

Then one evening, as the sun went down, something moved at the edge of the forest. Two yellow eyes. A grey tail. It was a real wolf! The sheep saw it and began to bleat. "Baa! Baa!" Niko's heart went thump, thump, thump. He jumped onto his rock and shouted with all his might. "Wolf! Wolf! A real wolf! Please, come quickly!"

Down in the village, the people heard him. "There goes Niko again," said the baker. "He's playing his tricks," said the farmer. "We won't be fooled a third time." And nobody came. Up on the hill, the sheep ran in every direction, into the bushes and down the hillside. The wolf chased them about, but the sheep were too quick, and soon the wolf gave up and slunk back into the forest.

But now the sheep were scattered all over the hill! Niko ran down to the village with tears on his cheeks. "There really was a wolf," he cried, "and now the sheep are lost!" The old shepherd saw his face, and he knew this time it was the truth. "Come," he said gently. And everyone took lanterns and went up the hill, calling, "Here, sheep! Here, sheep!" One by one, they found every single sheep.

When the last little lamb was safe in the pen, Niko said, "I'm sorry. I'll never tell a lie like that again." "We know you mean it," said the old shepherd, and he patted his shoulder. And Niko kept his promise. He told the truth every day, and soon everyone trusted him again. Because the truth is like a lantern: it helps everyone find their way home. Good night.