Otter Day at ZANABIA

5th January. Slightly damp. Entirely joyful. By dawn, ZANABIA already smells like fresh river water, roasted fish treats, and mild chaos. It’s Otter Day. A day officially marked on the Zanabian calendar with a paw-print stamp and an asterisk that reads: “Expect delays. Otters have right of way.” Thousands of otters—river otters, lake otters, shy otters, dramatic otters—have chosen ZANABIA as home. Some live near the disappearing lakes, some under walkways, some suspiciously close to cafés. A few have unofficially adopted Zanabians. Others believe they are Zanabians. On Otter Day, the line between citizen and otter is respectfully blurred. The Morning Rituals Zanabians step out with pockets full of approved snacks (strictly otter-certified). Otters respond by forming polite queues, which immediately collapse into affectionate pile-ups. No one complains. This is expected behaviour. Each otter is: Met (eye contact, nose wiggle acknowledgment) Fed (with gratitude and dramatic hand gestures) Praised (“Who is the guardian of this river? YOU are.”) Selfie’d (most otters pose better than influencers) Otters, for their part, accept praise with the calm confidence of beings who know they are adorable and morally superior. Fashion Accidents (and Triumphs) Some otters wear scarves. Some wear nothing but confidence. Many Zanabians leave the house looking normal and return slightly wet, smiling, and carrying an otter that refused to let go. It is considered rude to remove the otter. Civic Impact Public transport slows. Meetings are postponed. Serious conversations are interrupted by phrases like: > “Sorry, one second—this otter chose me.” No one argues. The Mayor issues the annual Otter Proclamation, which is immediately ignored because an otter has climbed onto the podium and is being applauded. The Philosophy of the Day Otter Day is not about spectacle. It’s about coexistence. ZANABIA believes that if a creature feels safe enough to nap on your foot, you are doing something right as a society. Otters remind everyone to float a little, hold hands when necessary, and snack often. By Evening Otters retreat to the water, full and flattered. Zanabians go home damp, tired, and inexplicably happier. And somewhere, in a quiet lake that may or may not exist tomorrow, an otter claps slowly— because Otter Day, once again, has gone very well. End of report. Slightly soggy. Completely successful. 🦦✨