Shear Deception: The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

To my dear son Jack,

This story is dedicated to you, with love and pride. Your creativity and imagination inspires me every day, and I am so grateful to be your father. Thank you for always being a source of joy and light in my life. I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

With love,

Your dad,

Mark Randall Havens

Saturday, December 17, 2022

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It was a beautiful day in the pasture, with the sun shining and the grass a vibrant shade of green. The sheep were enjoying a peaceful day of grazing, taking in the sights and sounds of nature. They had no idea that danger was lurking just around the corner, in the form of a cunning wolf disguised as one of their own. Fluffy had been watching the sheep for weeks, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. It had learned to mimic the sheep's behavior and blend in with the flock, all in the hopes of satisfying its hunger for the sheep's tender meat.

"Hey, who's that new sheep?" asked one of the sheep.

"I don't know," replied another sheep. "It just showed up out of nowhere."

"It looks kind of strange," said the first sheep. "I don't think it's one of us."

"We can't just let this sheep be all by itself," said the second sheep. "It's important that we all stick together and look out for each other."

"I guess so," said the first sheep, although it still looked skeptical. "But something about it seems off. I can't quite put my hoof on it."

"I'm sure it's fine," said the second sheep. "Let's go say hi and welcome it to the flock."

The sheep approached the wolf, who was disguised as a sheep. "Hi there!" said one of the sheep. "Welcome to the flock! My name is Baa-Baa, and this is my friend, Woolly."

"Hi, Baa-Baa, Woolly," said the wolf, smiling. "I'm so glad to be here. My name is Fluffy."

"Nice to meet you, Fluffy," said Baa-Baa. "Is this your first time in the pasture?"

"Yes, it is," replied Fluffy. "I've been looking for a flock to join for a long time, and I'm so happy to have finally found one."

"Well, you're welcome here anytime," said Woolly. "We're always happy to have new sheep join us."

Fluffy, the wolf disguised as a sheep, started hanging around the other sheep in the pasture. It acted friendly and helpful, always willing to lend a hoof when needed. The other sheep appreciated Fluffy's helpful nature, and they started to trust and follow it.

"Hey, Fluffy," said Baa-Baa one day. "Do you mind helping me pull this bale of hay over to the barn?"

"Of course not, Baa-Baa," replied Fluffy, smiling. "I'm always happy to help out."

Fluffy grabbed one end of the bale of hay with its teeth, and together, they pulled it over to the barn. The other sheep watched in admiration, impressed by Fluffy's strength and dedication.

"Thanks for your help, Fluffy," said Baa-Baa, panting. "You're a real asset to the flock."

"No problem, Baa-Baa," said Fluffy, still smiling. "I'm just glad I could be of help."

The other sheep started to see Fluffy as a responsible and reliable leader. It always had good ideas and seemed to know what was best for the flock. They thought it was one of them, and they had no reason to suspect that it was anything other than a harmless sheep.

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Fluffy's influence within the flock continued to grow. It started to take on more leadership responsibilities, making decisions for the group and allocating resources as it saw fit. The other sheep trusted Fluffy's judgment and followed its lead, viewing it as a wise and capable leader.

"Fluffy, what do you think we should do about the drought?" asked Baa-Baa. "Our water supply is running low."

"I have an idea," said Fluffy. "Why don't we allocate some of our resources towards building a well? That way, we'll have a steady supply of water, even during droughts."

The other sheep thought Fluffy's idea was brilliant, and they followed its lead. They worked together to build a well, using the resources Fluffy had allocated toward the project. The well was a success, and the flock was able to survive the drought thanks to Fluffy's leadership.

The other sheep looked up to Fluffy as a role model, admiring its intelligence and dedication. They had no idea that Fluffy was actually a wolf in sheep's clothing, manipulating and deceiving them for its own gain. They thought Fluffy was one of them, and they had no reason to suspect that it was anything other than a harmless sheep.

"Hey, Fluffy," said Baa-Baa one day. "You've been such a great leader for the flock. I was wondering if you'd be interested in taking on even more responsibilities?"

"Well, I don't know," said Fluffy, pretending to be hesitant. "I don't want to overcommit myself."

"Oh, come on, Fluffy," said Woolly. "You're the best leader we've ever had. We need you to take on more responsibilities."

"Well, if you really think I'm the best person for the job, then I suppose I could take on a few more responsibilities," said Fluffy, smiling, coyly.

The other sheep were overjoyed.

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Fluffy's influence within the flock continued to grow even more. It took on more leadership responsibilities, making decisions for the group and allocating resources as it saw fit. The other sheep trusted Fluffy's judgment and followed its lead, viewing it as a wise and capable leader.

"Fluffy, what else do you think we should do about this horrible drought?" asked Baa-Baa. "The water in the well is very low, and we fear that the stream will soon run dry."

"I have an idea," said Fluffy. "Why don't we allocate some of our resources towards building a dam? That way, we can have a secondary source of water, should the well and stream go dry."

The sheep all began to nod in agreement.

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"We need more resources to finish the dam," Fluffy said. "But don't worry, I have a plan. I'll go out and negotiate with the neighboring farms to see if they can spare some of their resources. In the meantime, keep working on the dam. We need to be diligent and make sure it is completed."

The other sheep nodded and continued to work on the dam, trusting in Fluffy's leadership and judgment.

As the days passed, Fluffy's influence within the flock grew even stronger. It was a skilled manipulator, always acting in the best interests of the flock - or so it seemed. It knew how to win over the sheep with its charm and charisma, and it seemed to have all the qualities of a great leader. The sheep had no reason to doubt Fluffy's intentions, and they followed its lead without hesitation.

"Fluffy, you've done such a great job as our leader," said Baa-Baa. "We're so lucky to have you."

"Thank you, Baa-Baa," Fluffy replied with a sly smile. "I'm just glad I can help. We're all in this together, after all."

The other sheep all nodded in agreement.

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One day, Fluffy gathered the flock together for a meeting. "I have an important announcement," it said. "I've been approached by the neighboring farm, and they've offered us a deal. They have an abundance of resources, and they're willing to trade with us. I think we should take them up on their offer."

The other sheep nodded in agreement, not suspecting a thing. They trusted Fluffy's judgment and believed that the deal was in their best interests. But Fluffy had a hidden motive that it kept from the flock. It wanted to use the deal to not only slowly sell off the sheep one by one, but also satisfy its hunger and grow its wealth at the same time. Fluffy saw the sheep as a valuable asset, both as a source of sustenance and as a means of making money. It plotted and schemed in secret, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. The other sheep had no idea that Fluffy's true intention was to use the deal to further its own interests, even if it meant preying on and consuming innocent sheep. They blindly trusted Fluffy's judgment, unaware of the hidden motives behind the deal.

Fluffy had a devious plan in mind. It would sell some of the sheep for profit, using the money to buy supplies and also three little pigs. By doing this, Fluffy would have a constant and diverse source of food and wealth. But Fluffy knew that if it were to attack the flock head-on, it would be overpowered and driven off. So it had to be clever and use trickery to get what it wanted.

But Fluffy's true nature was about to be revealed. One of the sheep, a young lamb named Fleecey, had always been skeptical of Fluffy's intentions. It had a feeling that something wasn't quite right, and it decided to investigate. What it discovered would change the course of the flock's future forever.

"I'm telling you, there's something off about Fluffy," said Fleecey to the other sheep.

"What are you talking about?" asked Baa-Baa.

"I don't know, I just have a gut feeling," replied Fleecey.

"I'm going to do some digging and see what I can find out."

"Be careful, Fleecey," warned Woolly. "Fluffy is a respected member of the flock. You don't want to start any trouble."

"I'll be careful," said Fleecey. "But I have to know the truth. I'll report back as soon as I find out anything."

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Fleecey returned to the flock and shared what it had learned.

"Fleecey, what did you find out?" asked Baa-Baa.

Fleecy looked absolutely terrified. "Well, I followed Fluffy into the forest, and I saw it talking to a group of wolves," said Fleecey. "Fluffy is planning to use the profits from selling some of us to buy supplies and some pigs, so it could eat them!"

"What? That can't be true," said Woolly. "Fluffy has always seemed like such a kind and trustworthy leader."

"I'm afraid it is true," said Fleecey. "I heard everything with my own ears. Fluffy is a wolf in disguise, and it has been using its position of influence to manipulate and deceive us for its own gain."

"I can't believe it," Baa-Baa said, shaking his head. "Fluffy was a wolf all along?"

"I can't believe we were all taken in by it," Woolly added. "We trusted Fluffy, and it betrayed us."

"I knew something was off about it from the beginning," said one of the sheep. "But I never would have guessed it was a wolf in disguise."

"We have to do something about this," said another sheep. "We can't just let it get away with this."

"But what can we do?" asked Baa-Baa. "We're just sheep. We don't have the strength or the ability to defend ourselves against a wolf like Fluffy."

"We have to be smart," said Fleecy. "We have to outsmart it. We have to use our brains and our cunning to outmaneuver it."

The sheep nodded, determined to come up with a plan to stop Fluffy. They knew they couldn't let it get away with its deceit and manipulation. They were determined to bring it to justice and protect themselves and their flock.

The sheep huddled together, brainstorming and coming up with ideas. They knew they had to act fast before Fluffy had a chance to strike again. They were determined to outsmart the wolf and bring it to justice, no matter what it took.

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"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" asked a voice from the woods. Fluffy emerged from the trees, revealing its true identity as a wolf. "I've been watching you all for quite some time, and I must say, I was thoroughly impressed by your naivety and trust in me."

"Oh my goodness, Fluffy, you're really a wolf!" exclaimed Baa-Baa. "How could you deceive us like this?"

"It was easy, my dear Baa-Baa," said Fluffy, smiling slyly. "You sheep are so trusting and gullible. You see what you want to see, and you believe what you want to believe. I merely took advantage of that and played the part of a harmless sheep."

"But why?" asked Woolly, tears streaming down its face. "We trusted you. We looked up to you. How could you betray us like this?"

"Because I am a wolf, and it is in my nature to deceive and manipulate," replied Fluffy. "I couldn't resist the temptation to play with your emotions and use you for my own gain. And I must say, it was quite entertaining to watch you all blindly follow my lead."

The sheep looked at Fluffy, unsure of what to do. They had been so easily deceived, and they were struggling to come to terms with the betrayal. They knew they had to take action.

As the wolf sniffed around, its nose led it towards Fleecy. The wolf locked eyes with Fleecy and grinned wickedly, revealing its sharp teeth.

Within an instant, all the sheep watched in horror as Fluffy began to chase after Fleecy, determined to catch and kill it. They knew they had to do something to stop the wolf, but they were too afraid to intervene. They could only watch in fear as the wolf chased Fleecy through the pasture, its teeth bared and ready to attack.

As Fluffy closed in on Fleecy, ready to pounce, the other sheep sprang into action. With fierce determination, they charged at the wolf, bleating, and baaing as they surrounded it. Fluffy was caught off guard by the sudden attack, and it was no match for the united force of the sheep. The wolf was overwhelmed and retreated, defeated by the power of the flock.

The sheep had scored an epic victory over the wolf, all thanks to their bravery and teamwork. They learned a very important lesson that day: no matter how hard it tries, a wolf can't change its true nature. Even if it disguises itself as a sheep, it's still a predator at heart, and the sheep must always be on the lookout for its sneaky tricks. The sheep were so happy that they had won this battle, and they promised to always be ready for any danger that might come their way. They were stronger and more united than ever before, and they knew that they could overcome anything as long as they stuck together.

As the sheep made their way back home, they knew they had a big decision to make. They needed to choose a new leader to guide and protect them. After lots of discussion and thought, they finally picked Fleecy as their leader. Fleecy had shown itself to be smart, resourceful, and brave, and the sheep knew they could always count on it to have their best interests at heart. They would follow Fleecy's guidance and protection, and they would never let their guard down again. Even though the wolf had gotten away this time, the sheep were ready to face any challenge that came their way. They were stronger and more united than ever before, and they knew that as long as they stuck together, they could conquer any obstacle.

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The moral of the story

Watch out for people who try to pretend they're someone they're not, and don't trust people just because they seem friendly or helpful. It's important to be on the lookout for sneaky motives and to question things that seem weird or fishy. Trusting someone without figuring out what they really want can be dangerous, and it might lead to you getting tricked or used. It's better to be careful and aware of potential dangers than to trust people blindly and get caught off guard by their true intentions.

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This fable was first published on Medium on Monday, December 17, 2022. It was first archived by Wayback Machine on December 31, 2022.