(CNN) -- The moment I saw that guinea pig's corpse, I made up my mind. I would not tell my son Checkers was dead ... at least not that night. Drew had five tests within the next two days. I wasn't going to let grief jeopardize his grades. Checkers, on the left, enjoys a bit of kale with Andrea. I realize instantly the challenges of my decision. How could I keep this secret in a 10-by-12 room in which the guinea pig chalet was almost as big as the twin bed? I'd already goofed by yelping, "Oh, my!" when I saw the body. Drew heard me from his bathroom. "What's wrong, Mommy? Are you OK?"
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Mom discovers young boy's guinea pig has died suddenly
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She decides to keep it a secret because he faces several school tests
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Co-workers divided on whether mom's actions are correct
Checkers
In what seemed like one move, I reach in the closet, dump shoes out of a box, grab @placeholder, plunk the stiff in the box, run downstairs, stuff the cardboard casket into a plastic bag, dash to the garage trash can, finish rapid hand-washing and make it upstairs as my third-grader steps into the hall.
Mommy
Mom
He's suspicious, but TV is as awesome as getting in @placeholder's bed, so no more questions.