to get a cry

Today I ran upstairs for a minute to grab I don't remember what, and before I came back down I heard Clark's wail start up. When I left he was standing up and holding onto the ottoman which is pretty sturdy, so I had my suspicions. When I got to the family room I said to Frances, "what happened?" "I push him," she said. "And then I hit him." "Why did you hit him, honey?" I asked. "Cause when I push him, he didn't cry. I want him to cry," she said. I suppose it's kind of like when she pulls the dog's ears to hear him squeal. Poor dog. Poor Clark.