People used to jokingly say, "Otters are like a butt and a shirt!" And indeed they were inseparable.
They went to school together, for walks, shopping, concerts and plays. They knew how to make each other laugh until they burst into tears, and how to support each other in difficult moments. Their friendship was forged out of respect, trust and deep love.
Because they both loved travelling, one spring about thirty years ago they travelled together to Graz, Austria, for the famous flower show. The sun was warm, the flowering fields were in every shade of the rainbow and the flower sculptures swayed gently in the breeze. They were walking slowly, admiringly, each with her camera in hand, when they heard a cry under a large pavilion surrounded by a sea of tulips.
"Did you hear that?" asked Vesna, standing still.
"Yes ... Someone is crying. Look over there!" Lydia pointed towards the edge of the pavilion.
Under the pillar stood a little girl of about six years old, small and frightened. She was crying so hard that she was trembling. People walked by, helpless at her despair.
The ever practical Lidija quickly opened her rucksack. "Maybe some biscuits would help," she said, pulling out a packet of butter biscuits from her pocket. She cautiously walked over to the girl and offered her one: "Here, a cookie... Just for you. You won't be hurt."
The girl looked suspicious, but her tears flowed less fiercely. When she reached for the biscuit with her small hand, the sobbing stopped almost completely.
"What's your name, sweetheart?" Vesna asked quietly as the girl chewed.
"Lena," she whispered.
"Are you lost?" Lydia continued gently.
The little girl nodded and added quietly, "I'm looking for my mummy and daddy."
Since she had no phone and did not know her parents' number, Lidija and Vesna decided to take her with them while they walked in the park until they found her parents. And sure enough, while admiring the exhibition, the little girl suddenly cried out, "Mamiii!"
Two worried parents, tearful with relief, came running out of the crowd. The mother hugged the little girl, while the father quickly pulled his wallet out of his pocket and almost forced a few notes on them.
"No, thank you, it's really not necessary," said Vesna firmly.
"It was really the least we could do," Lidija added with a smile.
Then, as a token of their gratitude, the parents warmly invited them, "At least come for coffee with us, please. Please come and have a cup of coffee with us."
So Lidija and Vesna kept something else in their hearts that day besides the unforgettable exhibition; proof that together they have always been able to find the right path. Just like an ass and a shirt - inseparable in everything, even in kindness.
Zala Krupljan, 4. 4. 2025
English (UK) 
Slovenščina 
Italiano 
Magyar