CJ Woods III’s Story Archive

600

August 15, 2013 | by CJ Woods III

When I discovered that I had been conscripted into the service of this publication, I asked the creative director what I should use as a guide to determine how to fill the column assigned to me. “Ohthenumberofwordsintheothercolumnsisfine,” fired Paula Nicewanger, and once I replayed her voice at 33 RPM, I … Read More

The Woman With The Secret Smile

August 8, 2013 | by CJ Woods III

Elizabeth Berg’s novel, “What We Keep,” opens with a woman on a flight to California to see someone she has not seen for thirty-five years: her mother. That circumstance reminded me of a woman with whom I had worked. I remembered a post on her Facebook page saying that she … Read More

Disconnections

August 1, 2013 | by CJ Woods III

When a recent telephone conversation wound down to the disconnecting phase, I said “see you” at the same time the other party said “goodbye.” Since we had each stepped on the other’s statement, we attempted a repeat, with the same comic result. Disconnections are not always easy. When I was … Read More

Civility

July 25, 2013 | by CJ Woods III

I came on foot to an intersection where a small street bled into a major road; a car idled in the crosswalk. The driver was trying to see around a slight curve to gauge the least dangerous time to make a left turn. He saw me and began to back … Read More

Mr. Diggum’s Diary

July 18, 2013 | by CJ Woods III

My friends returned from vacation to find that their cat, “Mr. Diggums,” had left a diary of his days. What follows is an excerpt. Day One: I knew it: mom and dad left, dragging bags. Gone! But I’ll get mine, and give them an extra ration of GRIEF when they … Read More