Bedtime Stories: The man who cried wolf

Welcome to the latest episode of the News Round The Clock (NRTC) original piece, Bedtime Stories.

In case you missed it, you can check out previous episodes here.

On today’s episode of Bedtime Stories, we would be discussing the narrative of the young man who cried wolf.

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The Man Who Cried Wolf

When I was much younger, I had an English comprehension textbook (I can’t remember the name now), there was a story that excited me in that text book.

I believe the story was titled ‘The man who cried wolf!’.

The man in this story was a villager who was renowned for his jocular antics and sanguine personality.

One morning, he ran out from his house and began to shout ‘Wolf! Wolf!! Wolf!!’ everyone in the neighborhood ran out of their various homes to aid the young man.

Oh well, the man began to roll on the floor hysterically when people got to the scene, he told everyone that it was a joke and he only wanted to get everyone’s attention.

A lot of people were furious at the young man, while some just shook their head in utmost disgust and left the scene. Nobody found it hilarious anyways.

Couple of weeks later, the young man cried ‘wolf’ again.

Like the previous time, everyone scrammed to the scene with vicious weapons to rescue the man but there was still no wolf. Once again, it was only a joke. His livid neighbors warned him sternly and they all went back to their respective homes.

Finally, a real wolf would appear few days after his false alarm.

He began to run around the street screaming and wailing, gnashing for help, shouting ‘Wolf! Wolf!! Wolf!!!’ Unfortunately, nobody was interested in his hanky-panky tantrums this time around, hence he was ignored to fight the wolf alone.

The wolf ate him voraciously and went ahead to consume members of his family before the neighbors could come to their rescue. It was too late by then.

In recent times, a lot people sheepishly cry ‘wolf’ on social media. People begin to spread fake news all over the internet, hate speech, heinous rape scandals (especially on Twitter) and engage in flirtatious act with depression and suicidal thoughts.

A lot of people just raise false alarm because of the fear of being ignored or fading into obscurity. Everything on social media is fun and a game until the wolf comes howling at your door.

Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it all.

Thank you and quit crying wolf!