It had been there long enough to be thoroughly dry and tasteless.

He got up, planted both feet on it and teetered back and forth, chuckling up at Bud with his eyes squinted.
He teetered so enthusiastically that he sat down unexpectedly and with much emphasis.

That put him between two impulses, and while they battled he stared round-eyed at Bud.

But he decided not to cry, and straightway turned himself into a growly bear and went down the line on all fours toward Cash, growling "Ooooooo!" as fearsomely as his baby throat was capable of growling.
But Cash would not be scared.

He refused absolutely to jump up and back off in wild-eyed terror, crying out "Ooh! Here comes a bear!" the way Marie had always done--the way every one had always done, when Lovin Child got down and came at them growling.