Mini Mission: Help with the Aquarium

"Wipe wipe wipe," the child hummed softly as the wet rag slid over the glass, always briefly forming small wet circles before the remaining water evaporated and the wipe marks disappeared. The glass already looked much cleaner, even though it had only been worked on from the outside so far. The inside would be next, but Pan needed instructions before she could even get into the pool.

Behind the glass, a fish swam up curiously and followed the wiping movements sluggishly but steadily. Small bubbles rose from its fins whenever it had to change direction. Pan chuckled and gently tapped the glass. This seemed to startle the fish rather than draw its attention to the child, because with one lightning-quick movement it was gone.

"You're not supposed to knock on it." 

A visitor approached her. 

"You'll only scare them. Because your knocking may be quiet out here, but in there, in the water..." 

The kamishiba sniffled, took out a handkerchief from his pocket, and briefly wiped his nose. 

"In the water, on the other hand, this knocking already has tremendous power. It gives off ripples into the water, and fish don't like that."

Pan nodded silently. She had not understood a word that stranger was saying. What kind of waves? What power? But instead of asking, she nodded again and seemed to satisfy the visitor. Because he put his handkerchief away again and already turned to go. 

"Don't forget: no matter what you do, the fish will notice it much more than you can imagine. So be careful and go gently. We don't want the little ones to get scared." He smiled. "What else are we kamishibas supposed to admire when the fish are out of sight?" Without waiting for an answer, he walked away, leaving the child alone with his rag.

The latter hesitated briefly and looked to the aquarium behind him. The little fish was visible again, but apparently did not dare to come closer. Carefully, she placed the wet cloth on the glass and continued with her circular movements. She hadn't understood a word, but the message had gotten through. 

She had to be careful or there would be real trouble.