The significance of that insignificant half

My son George turns four and a half next week. Of course to you and me the half became irrelevant decades ago but to him it's the most important thing in the world! His friend Matthew is already four and a half, his friend Max is only just four. It's the talking point of the nursery gang. We talk about the weather, they spend the day comparing ages and establishing a heirachy off the back of the results.

This morning George said to me and his Mum "I'm four and a half next week aren't I?" half way between a statement and a question.

Me: "That's right"

George: "Then it's my birthday isn't it?"

Me: "Well you don't really have birthdays when you're four and a half but you do when you're five"

This didn't go down well and it took some major persuasion to convince him you don't celebrate something as significant to him as that half!

It's a mind-bogglingly simple and innocent world they live in. Long may it continue.