The Author, Roger Arsht

Roger Arsht is a former high school language arts teacher who has been writing professionally for the past eight years. His work tends to be dark, mysterious, and cynical and often prompts the reader to explore what is really sinister in our society. Sports corruption, fame-whoring, privacy exploitation, and unlikely vigilantes are some of the elements in his thrilling novels and short stories.

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Tommy and Johnny – Bumble Bartleby Burroughs

Johnny Perkins leaned across the ancient checkerboard and whispered to Tommy ‘Big Nose’ McQueen. “Something doesn’t smell right. There’s a man mumbling to himself in the corner. Who’s that?”

It’s george carlin’s fault

It was a particularly cold and snowy morning in Park City when Dan Kotler sat down at Pete’s Coffee Shop and waited for his friend Joanne Bloom. Dan saw Joanne arguing with a woman outside the front door. Upon entering the shop…

The Pickup guy

I became fascinated with Gordon Myring only after a conversation with Jeffrey Zaslow. I had invited Jeffrey to come to Park City High School to share with my students what he had learned from Randy Pausch, the late Carnegie-Mellon Professor. Jeffrey and Randy had co-authored…

Hungover

Dan Kotler and Joanne Bloom were sharing their morning cup of coffee at Pete’s Coffee Shop when they overheard a conversation at the next table. A young couple thought they were speaking softly enough so that the two octogenarians couldn’t hear them. They were wrong.

the circus is in town

It was a hot and sticky June evening when Peggy Abbott slid through the second-floor window of her bedroom, climbed down the trellis, and leapt the last four feet to the soft grass of the backyard. She felt for her bike in the darkness. It was leaning against the fence…

A full cup of Coffee

Dan Kotler was reading the newspaper and enjoying his second cup of coffee when his friend, Joanne Bloom, came into the café. Joanne waved to him and joined the line of people waiting to order their coffee. A few minutes later, Joanne sat down across from her friend.

Tommy and Johnny: The Houston Astros

“It’s your move.” Johnny Perkins said to his friend Tommy “Big Nose” McQueen. Tommy didn’t have a big nose. He got his nickname because every discussion in Peterson’s Barbershop began with the phrase ‘something doesn’t smell right.’

Dog Knows best

On November 29th, 2020, Robert Hatton and Hyrum Smith appeared before Judge Jeffrey Blackmun. The Bailiff, Rose Atwater, was asked to read the charges. “Your Honor, Mr. Hatton is suing Mr. Smith for assault, emotional distress, reimbursement of medical costs, and loss of income.”

Tommy And Johnny: the election

Tommy ‘Big Nose’ McQueen had two offices. On warm afternoons, Tommy held court on the wrought iron bench outside of Peterson’s Barbershop beneath its red and white striped awning. On rainy or cold afternoons, he occupied one side of the ancient checkerboard table…