The Last Cry of the Trickster
In a small village by the forest, there was a mischievous young boy known for his endless tricks. He was the village shepherd, and his name was Johannes. Every morning, he’d take his cows into the dense woods where the forest met the mountain. But Johannes wasn't content to watch the cows graze. Instead, he loved playing tricks on the villagers.
One day, he climbed to the top of the mountain and let out a loud scream. “Help! I've been struck by lightning!” His cows bellowed as he waved his arms wildly, and his dog barked, adding to the noise. The villagers, hearing his cries, rushed up the mountain. They arrived out of breath and worried, only to find Johannes grinning. “April Fool!” he laughed. The villagers sighed, some even chuckled, but warned him to be careful.
But Johannes didn’t stop there. He tried the same trick again and again, each time pretending to be in terrible trouble, only to laugh and say, “It’s just a joke!” One time, he tangled himself in a fishing net by the river, calling out, “Help! I’m trapped!” His dog barked furiously, and the villagers hurried to help him. Once they untangled him, he flashed his grin and said, “Gotcha!” They were annoyed, but he shrugged and thought nothing of it.
Then came a dark, stormy day. Johannes took his cows to the forest as usual, but thick clouds covered the sky. Thunder rumbled, and rain began to pour. Johannes felt a shiver, but he shook it off, grinning to himself. “Maybe I’ll call out one more time and see if they still fall for it,” he thought.
Suddenly, a flash of lightning struck the ground nearby, followed by a loud crack. Startled, Johannes tried to move his cows back home, but he slipped on the muddy ground. Then, out of nowhere, another bolt of lightning struck — this time, it hit Johannes directly. He felt a shock like never before, freezing his body. He tried to scream, but the pain was overwhelming. His voice faded as he slipped into unconsciousness, lying motionless on the wet ground.
Hours passed. Some villagers heard the thunder and saw the storm, but after so many false alarms, they shook their heads. “It’s probably another one of Johannes’s tricks,” they muttered, and no one went to check on him.
The storm cleared, and the forest grew quiet. Finally, an old man, who had once been fooled by Johannes’s tricks, decided to see if the boy was all right. He found Johannes lying under a tree, pale and unmoving. The lightning had left him paralyzed, and he could no longer call for help. The villagers carried him back to the village, but the mischievous light in his eyes was gone.
Moral: Even the most playful tricks can lead to real consequences. Trust is precious, and once it’s broken, it’s hard to earn back.
