CJ Woods III’s Story Archive

My Animals

December 17, 2015 | by CJ Woods III

“Dad, you need to get a cat,” Lisa said. I laughed at my daughter: “When I spend a month at your house, who is supposed to take care of the cat?” I think Lisa said that because of her concern for me. I live alone, and she worries that I … Read More

A Belief in Human Dignity

December 10, 2015 | by CJ Woods III

A man met me as I exited the convenient store. He asked for my help — a ride — saying that his truck had “broke down.” I shook my head and told him, “No.” As I drove away, I watched the man cross the street and enter a parking lot. … Read More

The Dead Christmas Tree

December 3, 2015 | by CJ Woods III

“Dad, who started the ‘dead tree’ tradition?” My eldest daughter called with the question as she watched her man thread live wires and bright bulbs onto the dead tree outside the door to their apartment. “I was trying to tell Bing about it and couldn’t remember who started it,” she … Read More

Giving

November 26, 2015 | by CJ Woods III

We sigh now, loosening our belts, skirts, pants and shirts, having survived the gathering of families and friends around the mythic bird of thanks, and now plunge headlong into what has been called “the season of giving,” or more commercially, “buy-this-stuff-so-we-can-get-bigger-bonuses.” Who among us gives thought to those who had … Read More

Alma Mater

November 19, 2015 | by CJ Woods III

“Alma Mater, God preserve thee/ Dear Schenley High…” A couple of years ago I read that a graduate of my high school had written a book. I bought the book and read it because the characters were students of a fictionalized version of that high school and came from the … Read More