There once was a shepherd boy who watched over his village's sheep on a hillside. Every day, alone with the sheep, he felt very bored.

One day, he decided to play a trick on the villagers. He shouted as loudly as he could, "Wolf! Wolf! Help!" The people rushed up the hill to help him, but found no wolf at all — only the boy laughing at his own joke.

A few days later, the boy repeated the same trick, crying out for help again. The people came running once more, only to discover he had lied to them again.

The villagers grew angry at his repeated lies and told him firmly, "Do not lie to us again. One day we may believe you and not come at all."

Then one day, a real wolf appeared and attacked the sheep. The boy cried out in true fear, "Wolf! A real wolf! Help me!"

But this time, no one in the village believed him. They thought it was another trick, so no one came, and the sheep scattered in fear. The boy learned a hard lesson about the importance of telling the truth.

The Lesson: Lying costs you people's trust, even when you finally tell the truth.