Using evidence, what did Jerry's "clowning" accomplish?

Jerry's clowning afforded him nothing... the boys simply stared at him.

And now, in a panic of failure, he yelled up, in English, “Look at me! Look!” and he
began splashing and kicking in the water like a foolish dog.

They looked down gravely, frowning. He knew the frown. At moments of failure, when he clowned to claim his mother’s attention, it was with just this grave, embarrassed inspection that she rewarded him.