So, was this week your first week back to routine? I hope it’s gone well if so. Here’s your new story challenge.
Can you tell a story in 63 words using the following words in it somewhere:
- NOODLES
- CLINIC
- SWAMP
- DUNGAREES
- OCTOGENARIAN
- BARGAIN
The previous challenge was to write a story in 40 words using the following four words in it somewhere:
- RESOLUTION
- HUMAN
- RAISINS
- MOOD
Here are your brilliant stories:
At dawn, the human council argued bitterly. Raisins spilled across the table, shifting the mood. After laughter and tears, a quiet resolution formed: forgive, share breakfast, rebuild trust together, as sunlight warmed hands, memories softened, and hope returned slowly home.
Box of healthy raisins in hand, Tracy switched on the hi-fi and settled in to write her new year’s resolutions. She frowned. She thought she’d chosen a Human League CD, but “I’m in the mood for dancing” blared out instead.
On 1/1/2026, June made a resolution never to eat them again. She was in no mood for a repeat of the Christmas fallout of 2025. Remembering 20kgs of little raisins on her driveway still traumatised her. She was only human.
Squirreljan:
My human’s resolution was to stop me begging at nibble time by only eating raisins with her evening tipple. She knew I will never eat them again after they caused my last sleepover at that devil vet. Bad mood – woof!
Grapes of Wrath
My New Year’s Resolution is to stop allowing raisins-YES RAISINS! – to haunt my every mood. Those sticky, wrinkly, little ubiquitous buggers have ‘dogged’ me since 2nd grade. Everyone had them…there was no place to hide… Must… Save… Humanity!
Sally’s New Year’s resolution soured her good mood. It had to be done. Starting was hard.
She sat, eating raisins and cereal as she formulated her plan.
Turning on a YouTube Walking Program, she felt more human with every step.
“You say you want a resolution… well, you know…”
“Well, here in my car, I’m only human… Gary Human!”
“Ha! How about – I’m dancing in the moodlight.”
“Raisins to be cheerful, part 3!”
“Oh, that’s funny! I like that one.”
My New Year’s resolution is to not join those human raisins at the pool thereby maintaining my youthful mood.
Forever Young?
The ripe grapes‘ mood dropped suddenly when humans sat down in the shadow of the grapevine and started eating raisins. The fruits spontaneously made the resolution to rather get eaten by a crow than get old and wrinkly like that!
Munching on oatmeal and raisins for breakfast this morning, it occurred to me that the human mood regarding making a New Year’s resolution was inimical to their well-being. I find the human will usually isn’t strong enough to accomplish this.
Human beings have mood swings. They’re apart from the far east to the far west. They float solo and don’t sync. A genius asks everyone to make a resolution to share raisins every day. They now live happily ever after.
The Ramblings of E. M. Kingston:
Schoolyard Bully
He always puts her in a bad mood.
There was no resolution for his broken human condition.
As he dangled the little box of raisins in front of her face, she thought she would deck him square in the gut.
Raisins don’t go well with coffee… so I had to find a solution.
I wasn’t in the mood to bake, but I tried making cookies anyway.
In the end, my kitchen looked like a battlefield.
Keep Calm… I’m only human
Like any normal human being, come January the first I made a resolution. To go into business in the dried fruit sector. Very healthy, by all accounts.I couldn’t have been prouder when they unveiled the sign “Raisins the Roof”.
Susan Batten:
Despite his resolution, Joe ate too many raisins on New Year’s Eve (his version of the Spanish grapes). Being only human, he had a bad stomach next day, which put him in a terrible mood to start the new year.
The committee passed a resolution that raisins would no longer be used in the cafeteria as a substitute for sugar.
Within weeks, the mood shifted as people began to feel more human now pips were no longer in their tea.
Murray Clarke:
What makes us human? The eternal question! And, with every New Year’s resolution, I contemplate how I can become a better person. This puts me in a reflective mood as I devour the last of the Christmas nuts and raisins.
At midnight I made a resolution to stay bravely human, even when hope feels like dried raisins in the palm.
The sky boomed, the sea breathed, and the mood shifted: maybe fragile hearts can still choose sunrise after long nights.
Lost in Translation – a true story
“Kishmish!” I call for my sister whose name is Raisin which sounds stupid for a human. I’ve made a resolution to call her by the Farsi translation from now on and every time I do it is raisin’ the mood.
Rory the Racoon
A raison-loving racoon named Rory enjoyed dancing on picnic tables, demanding raisons like royalty. Humans, confused but amused, obliged. On New Year’s Day Rory made a resolution – to eat more raisins – hardly difficult but it did significantly improve his mood.
Resolution, a method of trying to improve your life on the coming year..
But human nature has risks. You tell yourself not to eat the raisins, which could lift your mood, but you eat them and they are rabbit droppings!
Only One
My resolution is to put grapes on a string and hang them across my kitchen window. It’s only human nature and only an arms length away for when I’m in the mood for a quick homemade raisin snack.
The entertainment committee for the Grape Festival announced a resolution to improve the opening ceremonies.
1970’s music by The Raisins was needed.
Human shockwaves of excitement spread. People searched attics and basements. The mood for the festival was set.
The Singing Raisins group always thought they were human. People loved them, going to their concerts, throwing little raisins at the stage. They made a resolution to never break up, lifting the mood of everyone. Their motto – wrinkled is cool.
It’s my new resolution.
Oh?
Yes, I’m in no mood to hear that commercial ever again, so the tv is off!
What commercial?
The ones with “human” raisins singing.
That’s old, where’d you hear it?
It’s saved on my Walkman.
My New Year Resolution is to eat a snack box of raisins daily, for lunch. Hopefully, this practice will put me in a better mood. I strive to be a decent human being ,but hunger makes me an aggressive monster.
The Aftermath
Three days since the basement. Her daughter safe. The killer gone.
Torres sat in the empty precinct, eating raisins from an evidence bag he’d left behind. Her mood: hollow. Her resolution: absolute.
He’d proven she was human.
Now she’d prove humans hunt back.
On Being Responsible
My New Year’s resolution: eat healthier.
Day one, I’m munching raisins like a responsible human.
They’re even in my salad.
Day two, I realize raisins are just old, disappointed grapes.
My mood plummets.
I order pizza.
Resolution abandoned.
Mood elevated.
A Cure to Sadness?
I heard a rumour once: That the resolution to human sadness, may or may have not been, a single loaf of bread sprinkled with raisins.
Both mood and the warm smell of baking rose so jovially—brioche of the soul.
cry season
resolute new year
raison d faire
am i human
i am
***
Image credit: Pinterest
Esther Chilton 
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