Soon, Nemo was ready and waiting by the front door yelling for Marlin to hurry up.

"Are you ready yet!?" yelled Nemo.

"Yes, I'm ready." said Marlin, coming out of the bathroom.

"Finally!" said Nemo grabbing Marlin's hand and trying to pull him towards the door.

"Put your coat on first." said Marlin

"I don't wanna!"

"It's freezing outside," said Marlin, "do you want to catch a cold?"

"Yes." said Nemo impatiently.

"Coat." he said, holding it out.

He let out another irritated grunt as he stuffed his arms into his coat.

"Now, are you absolutely sure you want to go to school today?" asked Marlin, "Because there's no problem if you don't, you can have another week or so for your arm to feel better-"

"My arm's fine," Nemo interrupted, now attempting to push Marlin towards the door "come on dad it's time for school."

The school was only around the corner so they walked, all the way there Nemo talked excitedly about school.

"I wonder where we're supposed to go?" muttered Marlin, looking around the crowded playground, he saw three dads chatting near the fence: "Excuse me, do you know where the Year 2 Teacher is?"

"Hey, I know you," said one of them, "you work down at the Red Lion right?"

"Uh yeah…"

"Marty, right?" he said

"Marlin."

"I'm Bob," he said.

"Ted."

"Bill," said another, "hey you work behind a bar, know any good bar jokes?"

"Well, uh…"

"Aw come on just one!" he said.

"All right, I know one joke," said Marlin, "Um, there's a mollusk and…and…and a sea cucumber, see? And they walk into a bar. Well, actually the mollusk doesn't, he-he's already there and…and then the sea cucumber, well they-I messed it up. There was a mollusk and a sea cucumber…"

"Sheldon," yelled Bob suddenly, "Get out of Mr Johnson's garden now!"

Across the street there were two little boys and a little girl about Nemo's age, they were climbing on someone's garden wall. A middle aged man opened the door and came out, yelling profanity at them and holding a nasty looking dog on a lead, the three kids ran across the road and into the safety of the playground.

"Hey, what happened to your arm?" asked Pearl.

"I broke it," said Nemo

"Cool," said Tad, taking a marker out of his bag "can I sign it?"

Just then a rather strange man came waltzing onto the playground, sing at the top of his voice ("Yooooouuuuuu've gotta pick a pocket or two!")

"Mr Ray!" yelled the others, running towards the door, many stopping to hi-five Mr Ray on the way past.

Nemo went to run after them, but Marlin kept hold of his hand.

"Dad you can go now," said Nemo impatiently.

"Well, hello. Who is this?" said Mr Ray.

"I'm Nemo."

"Arrgh, matey," said Mr Ray talking like a pirate, "All new crew members must answer a maths question o' great difficulty"

"Ok."

"What be two times three?"

"Six."

"Correct," he said, pointing Nemo towards the door "Off ye go!"

"Just so you know," said Marlin," he has a broken arm, so he'll need some help with his writing and..."

"Dad," said Nemo, "it's time for you to go now!"

"Don't worry; everything'll be fine" said Mr Ray, who then tapped the classroom window, "Hey Jimmy! What've I told you about keeping your hands to yourself?!"

"Aw man!" came Jimmy's voice from inside the classroom.