CJ Woods III’s Story Archive

Murder on the Hornet Express

July 30, 2020 | by CJ Woods III

The utility company worker climbed out of his truck after backing out of my driveway and raised his hand toward me and my granddaughter. “There’s a hornet’s nest right there,” he called out. “You keep that little girl away from here. Those hornets were giving this truck THE BUSINESS!” My … Read More

Kids Say Stuff

July 23, 2020 | by CJ Woods III

My youngest granddaughter came to me recently, holding a colorful plastic lei in her hands and with rising inflections on each word said, “Clop? Head?” As a well-schooled speaker of “Kid,” I correctly interpreted the two-year-old’s speech and placed the lei on my head. Myah has not been able to … Read More

Restraint

July 16, 2020 | by CJ Woods III

The man in the shower grew angrier as he lathered up, washing with a lice-eradicating medicinal soap. I stood in front of the open stall, my face turned away from his naked body. I was caught by surprise when the man came boiling out of the shower and plowed into … Read More

For The Love of the Earth

July 9, 2020 | by CJ Woods III

My current lessor bid me adieu after attending to some task at the house I lease by saying, “Thanks for taking care of the property.” The gesture was curious to me as I was merely knocking back the weeds and mowing the grass, for the most part. When I rented … Read More

Thanks, Indy

July 2, 2020 | by CJ Woods III

The woman at the liquor store rang up my purchases and commented on my T-shirt: “I’m a Steeler fan, too.” Though it is early in the (potential for a) professional football season, I’ve grown nostalgic for the sound and fury of smashing men, and the nattering nabobs in the broadcast … Read More