As Mehmet passes Lance, he drops one of his brushes - seemingly unknowingly. Lance, the helpful, picks up the brush and calls out to get Mehmet's attention. No response. Lance calls out again and hurries towards him. Mehmet turns, realizes what has happened, and is openly grateful. He clutches Lance's hand, and shakes it enthusiastically as he beams and offers his thanks in Turkish. Then he insists that he must polish Lance's shoes, implying that this is offered in payment for the returned brush.
As the thorough polishing proceeds, it is clear that there is another motive! Mehmet has not had a good day. He has 3 children at home. They are starving and may not have anything to eat tonight. Mehmet suggests that 10 or 12 Lira would be an appropriate payment for his repayment shoeshine. Lance realized this pitch was coming before he heard the amount, and he is ready. He had asked me for some coins - I gave him 3 thinking they were 1 Lira coins. But they turned out to be .5 Lira coins. So I guess it's only .50 Lira per child tonight. But despite the lesser payment, Mehmet leaves in good spirits waiting to drop his brush at the feet of someone else - perhaps someone who only has a 10 Lira note, and no coins!