"The Boy Who Cried Wolf"

English 1302 PCM / Skrabanek

"The Boy Who Cried Wolf"
        a fable by Aesop

        There once was a boy named Fibbio who lived in a sheepherding village. The people of the village were simple people, and they depended on the sheep for their livelihood. But wolves were known to range in the area, and the vile creatures often enjoyed killing a juicy sheep to eat. So the villagers had for a long time posted a guard to tend their flocks.

        One day this assignment fell upon Fibbio. Now, Fibbio was a mischievous and restless boy. He was known to all the villagers as one who could spin the most preposterous yarns. Fibbio did not much like the idea of sitting there all day just watching stupid sheep. But he knew he was supposed to, and he knew the villagers were counting on him, and those facts were pretty important. So he chased a butterfly awhile, threw some rocks at the sheep, and smashed 47 bugs. At the end of an hour, though, Fibbio was hopelessly bored.

        Mind you, Fibbio did not really intend to do naughty or wicked things. But he often found himself ensnared in such situations. Today was no different. Tired of his duty, Fibbio decided to have some fun. He worked up a clever scheme. He would call out the signal, the villagers would rush out to fight the wolf, and he could have a good laugh after fooling them.

        In his most frightened voice, Fibbio cried out the deceitful signal: "Wolf! Wolf!"

        Within minutes, the villagers were at hand, bearing sticks and pitchforks. They looked all around, high and low, this way and that. There was, however, no wolf for them to battle. Fibbio crouched nearby behind a big rock, giggling to himself. The villagers began to grumble loudly.

        "Fibbio!" one of them yelled. "No more of this nonsense!" The man seemed angry, so Fibbio did not move. Soon the villagers returned to their tasks in the village.

        Fibbio emerged from his hiding place, still chuckling at their silliness. He enjoyed himself so much that, after another hour, he cried out the false signal again: "Wolf! Wolf!"

        And again, the villagers rushed to help. And again, Fibbio hid as the villagers looked for the wolf, without success. And again, the villagers yelled at the hiding Fibbio, warning him to cease his folly, then returned to the village, grumbling.

        Fibbio was having himself a fine time . . . until a wolf did appear. It was a vicious creature, with coarse black fur and eerie red eyes. Fibbio saw it as it began to circle the flock. He climbed to the top of the rock and cried out urgently: "Wolf! Wolf!"

        But this time, the villagers did not rush to help. This time, they did not believe his frantic cry. And this time, the wolf ate up poor Fibbio, chuckles and all.