Concrete and Clay

I love birthdays. I just can't shrug off that child like excitement as you wake up in the morning knowing that today you are "king of the house" (or is that just in my family's tradition?). However there is something slightly strange about being in school on your birthday. There is the pleasure of having "happy birthday sir!" shouted across the playground on numerous occasions throughout the day but this is mitigated by the rather unpleasant phenomenon known as "birthday beats" and it sure ain't got anything to do with music. This institution revolves around the birthday boy (for this is an exclusively male preserve in my experience) receiving an equivalent number of punches to the years that are being celebrated. And when you get to 36 that's a hell of a lot of punches. Thanks boys, I guess it means you like me!