Mr. Philip was sitting by the window looking out into the street. A boy was sitting on a step on the opposite side of the street eating a bun. A dog was a little distance away, watching him ______________. Suddenly the boy called the dog and said, “Hey dog! Do you want a piece of the bun” The dog eagerly came forward. The boy held out the bun and just as the dog came near, the boy gave it a hard kick, which sent it yelping in pain. The boy laughed and settled down to finish the bun.

Which word best fills in the blank by clearly showing the writer's meaning?