A dead squirrel was found in 8-year-old Brylan's backpack at Gatewood Elementary in Oklahoma City, and the boy had a strange explanation for teachers. Photo by Ladye Hobson/Facebook

OKLAHOMA CITY, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- An Oklahoma City mother whose 8-year-old son was found to have a dead squirrel in his bag at school said the boy took his father's jokes a little too seriously.

Ladye Hobson posted a photo to Facebook of the late rodent taking its final rest in the boy's school bag, explaining the discovery at school had led to an awkward phone call from the principal of Gatewood Elementary in Oklahoma City.


Hobson wrote:

"When the principal calls to tell you that your son has made her day, so you get excited for the good news... Only to find out that the faculty has discovered a dead squirrel in his backpack (yeah, that 50 dollar Pottery Barn backpack). When asked by the principal what possessed him to pick up this dead squirrel and store it in his backpack, my son replies with 'I really wanted squirrel dumplings for dinner tonight.' Then, she asks if I actually want the squirrel to come home with him. Y'all, I had to explain that we are from the country, but we're not THAT country. (Sorry if any of you actually eat squirrel dumplings - I don't mean that to be offensive). She said 'it looked so peaceful lying there in his bag,' then sent me this picture..."

Hobson said her son, Brylan, apparently thought his father was serious when he repeatedly joked about making "squirrel dumplings" for dinner.

The mother said in a blog post that Brylan came home in tears and apologized profusely, but she decided "he gets a free pass on this one."

"I can't even be mad at this point. He has made the principal's day, after all," she wrote.