SLOVENIA'S 5 CORE VALUES

It was a normal Saturday when he and his wife went to Hofer for their weekly shop. His wife was checking the list and Matej was patiently stacking the items on the conveyor belt at the checkout. When his turn came, he took out his card and paid. Then, as he was sure he would, he put the wallet back in his pocket.  

But when he reached into his pocket at home to put the bill away, he was stuck. The wallet wasn't there. At first he thought he had left it in the car. He searched every nook and cranny; under the seats, in the boot, among the children's toys. Nothing. He ran into the flat, rummaged through the jackets, checked all the trouser pockets and checked the kitchen counter and even the rubbish bin. The wallet was nowhere to be found. Panic seized him. He had everything in it; his ID card, driving licence, health card, bank cards and €300 in cash. His heart was pounding and black scenarios were playing out in his head. What if someone had found her and was already using his cards?

Without hesitation, he got in his car and drove back to Hofer. At the information desk, he breathlessly asked if anyone had found his wallet. The clerk checked and asked her colleagues, but the answer was negative. No one had brought anything. He returned home even more dejected. He walked into the living room and said firmly: »I have no choice. I have to cancel all my cards immediately.« He picked up the phone and started looking for the bank's number when suddenly it rang. 

He looked reluctantly towards the door and asked, a little sharply, »Who is it?«

From the other side came a calm female voice: »Am I speaking to Mr Matthew Feužer?« 

»Yes, I am. What do you want?« 

»Tell me, are you missing anything? Have you lost anything today?«

Matthew's breath caught. »Of course - the wallet!« he almost exclaimed. 

»Then please open the door,« said the woman. »I found it.«

The doors opened with incredible speed. A kindly elderly lady stood in front of him, holding his black wallet. She said she had found it on the ground next to her car in the car park outside Hofer. It had apparently fallen out of his pocket while he was putting his bags in the boot. With trembling hands, Matej opened it. He checked the documents and counted the money. Everything was in its place; every single banknote. An indescribable relief washed over him. 

»Madam, I don't know how to thank you,« he said sincerely. He took out two notes (50 and 20 euros) and offered them to the kind lady.

The woman defended herself: »Oh, no way. It's not necessary. I'm glad I found you.« 

But Matej persisted. After a short persuasion, she finally accepted 20 euros. 

»That's too much,« she said with a smile. »I didn't go so far that they had to give me that much. The important thing is that everything ended well.« 

She told him that her name was Jelka Rebernak and that she came from Zgornji Laž. Matej shook her hand again; this time with deep respect and gratitude.

When she closed the door behind her, he stood in front of it for a long time, thinking. That day, he lost not only his wallet, but almost his faith in honesty, which he regained thanks to a kind lady.

And from then on, he always carefully put his wallet in his inside pocket, but above all, he carried gratitude in his heart for people like Jelka from Zgornji Laž.

                                                                                             Justina Strašek, 15. 2. 2026