How to stage a lie and get away with it

A couple of weeks ago, our oldest said he was going with a friend to see giraffes at a park in the city. This was something we did as a family many years ago so I had an idea of them spending time petting and feeding the giraffes. A nice, benign way to spend an unexpected but very welcome public holiday, yes?

Halfway into the day, as I slogged away at work (because the newspaper must go to press!), I sent him a text message asking to see some pictures. Imagine my utter shock when, after viewing the first two expected photos of them posing with the graceful creatures, I saw videos of him holding, of all things, a snake! What?? Had Giraffe Centre introduced serpents in the years since we were last there?