Mom told Max that she had left some scraps in a bowl for his dog, which was placed on the floor near the back door. The flock and the narrator became quiet, sensing that something might be wrong. The tone indicated possible disapproval or concern about the situation.
Max reacted angrily to the sight of the bowl on the floor, feeling insulted and annoyed. He expressed his frustration by sarcastically comparing the situation to being chained and given a bone, highlighting his displeasure with the arrangement or the way he was being treated. This moment reveals tension and possible underlying issues related to Max's feelings or authority.