Fantasy Daily News

Australia has a new national park just for koalas. On October 23, 2026, lawmakers in New South Wales passed a new law. It creates the Great Koala National Park on the state's north coast.

The new park covers about 476,000 hectares of forest, between the towns of Kempsey and Grafton. About 12,000 koalas live there, along with more than 100 other kinds of plants and animals that need protection.

People worked for more than ten years to make this park happen. Penny Sharpe, the state's environment minister, called it "a defining moment for conservation," which means an important moment for protecting nature.

Some forestry workers lost their jobs because logging will stop in the new park. Conservation groups say the park is still a big win for koalas and the forest they call home.

Wednesday morning began with a soft, golden light over the garden, and the first frost of the week dusted the grass near the gate. Lyn pulled on her warm sweater and checked the chrysanthemum by the persimmon tree, the same as every morning now.

"Six leaves," she called to Linda, smiling at the small plant's steady growth.

Linda came out with a broom, sweeping fallen leaves from the step. "The Culture Day crowds have cleared from the park," she said. "Things should be quiet again for a while."

Star trotted ahead of Lyn toward the gate, tail wagging in slow, happy circles. Pinkysan sat on the porch railing, watching the street the way she always did these days, as if she alone knew something was coming.

At the hotel, the morning passed at its usual gentle pace. Lyn helped a family find the right bus for Todaiji Temple and refilled the lobby's teapot twice before lunch. During her short break, she found herself looking at the clock again, the way she had all week.

When she walked home that afternoon, the street smelled of wood smoke and dry leaves. As she turned the corner, she saw Linda standing by the mailbox, holding something white in her hand.

"It came," Linda said, her voice bright. "Today, finally."

Lyn hurried the last few steps. Star barked once, sharp and happy, and Pinkysan appeared at the window, pressing her nose to the glass.

They sat together on the porch steps to open it, Star resting her chin on Lyn's knee. Inside was John's neat, careful handwriting.

"He says the second Friday of November," Linda read aloud, "the thirteenth. In the evening. He's taking the five o'clock train from Kyoto."

"That's nine days away," Lyn said, counting quickly on her fingers. "We have time to plan properly now."

Linda smiled, folding the letter against her chest. "I'll get the kettle ready early that day, just in case the train comes sooner."

"And I'll ask for the evening off," Lyn said, already picturing it: John stepping off the platform, the walk home under the last of the autumn leaves.

Star gave a happy little spin, chasing her own tail once before settling by Lyn's feet. Pinkysan climbed carefully into Linda's lap, sniffing at the letter with great interest, as though she, too, wanted to read every word.

That evening, they ate dinner slowly, talking over small details: what dishes to cook, whether to walk by the park if the leaves were still bright, and what small welcome gift might suit a friend who always brought his own.

"Nine days," Linda said again, almost to herself, turning off the kitchen light.

"Nine days," Lyn agreed, and for once, the waiting felt like the easy part.

(To be continued)