Ah, springtime in Boston: The Flat Tire Guy is back

He preys on young people who haven't heard of him, especially international students. I tell them he's a liar, warn them not to give him money, then walk away. He gets really mad, which is just icing on the good Samaritan cake.

…. was the self styled nun who worked business hours in DTX and commuted from the Lowell line. She entreated you in a pious sing sing voice to honor the Blessed Mother of Jesus and cursed you out like a sailor, if you told her to get thee to a nunnery.

Saw him many times when I lived in the neighborhood. He got to know the neighborhood people and leave them alone. I can't remember if it was him or another guy with the same scam that I told, "Hey, weren't you the guy with the flat tire in...Seattle, was it? Or maybe San Jose? Your kid was in the car waiting, too. How did that work out? You sure have bad luck with tires!"

He's got longevity, I'll give him that. My first run-in with him was about 20 years ago near Longwood. I gave him 5 bucks (which was a lot of money for a broke college kid) and he acted like I spat in his face.

talking about a white dude with a very similar shtick that I've run into around Back Bay Station many times, and South Station on a couple of occasions, dating back at least 15 years.

Same story (minus the kid in the car, often with a nervous-looking girlfriend / confederate hovering nearby), and the same loud, spittle-flecked faux-outrage when I listened for a minute and then politely declined the first time, and subsequently said, "I remember you -- I'm not playing." Neatly dressed and groomed enough not to look like the typical unhoused panhandler at first glance, never an update to the pitch.

Haven't seen that guy post-covid. I have yet to be buttonholed by Elliot Davis, despite regularly walking through his favored stomping grounds. Kinda feels like a missing punch on my longtime-Boston-resident card.

Uhubbers: what does your Random Boston Encounters card include? Mine has "Spaaaare Chaaange Guy in DTX", "Mr. Butch" (in both his Mayor and King of Kenmore Square reigns), "Menino Shopping the Suit Racks at Filene's Basement", "Married Man Derek Lowe Hitting on Young Women at a Fi-Di Nightclub", "Burly Black Dude Who Decided I Needed His Protection at Whitey's" (probably correct), "Aimee Mann as Newbury Comics Cashier" (what a stammering young crush I had!), "Papi and Remy at a Corporate Event", and "Dukakis on the Green Line".

Not canonical Boston encounters, but also, "Robert Parish in the Express Checkout at the Fenway Star Market", "Peter Wolf at the Beacon Hill Vintage Jewelry Store" (every Yuletide shopping season for several years), "Crossing in Front of Ric Ocasek in His Mercedes Roadster Near Coolidge Corner", "Steven Wright at the Brookline Village Italian Joint", "Radiohead's Tour Manager and Bassist on Adjoining Barstools at Neptune Oyster" (a 45-minute conversation about local food, steered them away from Mike's Pastry to The Modern), "Billy Bean at the Sex Pistols Show at Harborlights" (we spent the Dropkicks' opening set watching Sox-A's on the TV at the back -- he perfectly predicted how the Sox would blow their late-inning lead), "Cameron Diaz at the Bar at No. 9 Park" (while shooting that awful film with Tom Cruise), "Local Rock Critic Brett Milano" (at about a thousand small indie-rock club shows), and my favorite, "Jon Hamm at Taberna de Haro" (with the far less exciting-to-me Larry David, Michael Keaton, Tom Werner, and a completely shitfaced Patrick Lyons.)

Hit me up, Elliot Smith! You may entitle me to a free Dunks large iced coffee regular and some stale Munchkins.