Gustav

I couldn't say no to this. Meeting my old university friends after more than 20 years was really nostalgic.
"Join us on Friday. We all are going to be there. We actually found a 4th and we play every week since you disappeared from our life," said Ariel when I accidently met him on the street, then he continued: "I still live at the same place.  Do you remember where it is?"
Sure I remembered. 4 of us studied together for all the exams for 3 years, mostly at Ariel's big house. We used to study for about 2 hours, and then play bridge all night. So... I said yes, and was really looking forward to reuniting with my old friends.

Ariel opened the door. Next to him stood a huge threatening Schnauzer dog. He stood there like a statue, not moving, his eyes fixed on me.
"Hi Oren, great to see you! Oh... this is Gustav", he said noticing my worried look.
"I never saw such a behaviour in a dog. My dogs are always barking at strangers. He seems very disciplined. Is it safe to pass?" I asked, as Gustav made no attempt to move from his position.
Ariel wanted to say something, but then changed his mind and said with a smile: "Sure! Come in. All the others are already waiting."

After talking for an hour about old days and new days we started to play (we were 5, so we changed every few deals). Ariel became declarer on this deal:



I was West and I lead the ♥6. Ariel won the trick with his ♥10 and played on clubs. I took the ♣A on the 2nd round of clubs and switched to the ♦3.
Ariel tried the ♦J but East covered with his ♦Q and lost to South's ♦A. Stuck in hand, declarer tried to play spade to dummy's ♠K , but East took it with the ♠A and returned his 2nd heart. Ariel played low but I won with the ♥K and played a 3rd heart forcing declarer to win in hand once more with the ♥A and promoting 2 heart tricks. 
When Ariel tried his ♠J , I won the ♠Q, cashed my hearts (East guarded his spades and threw diamonds so on the last heart declarer threw spade) and continued with another diamond. Declarer won East's ♦10 with the ♦K, cashed the ♠10 but lost the final trick to my ♦7. 3 down! 

"Killing defense", murmured Ariel. "I should have tried to run my ♠10 instead of playing to the ♠K".
"Then I would allow you to win and keep my ♠A to your ♠K", said my partner.
"You could have made it if you win the 1st trick with the ♥A", I said. "Now you keep 2 low hearts in hand and guarantee an entry with heart after your clubs are promoted". 

All this time Gustav was laying calmly next to us but when we all got up, saying noisy words to one another, he jumped from his position and stood by the door. I made a big  mistake, trying to go to the door first, and saw Gustav exposing his teeth with a threatening noise and make a fast move towards me. I withdrew immediately and threw Ariel a questioning look.

"Yes Oren , I wanted to tell you before... Gustav has a separation anxiety", said Ariel. When he saw that my puzzled expression did not change, he continued:
"He is afraid to be left alone. We actually caught a thief once due to that. The poor man  was allowed to enter our house with no interference and only noticed Gustav when he wanted to leave... Gustav wouldn't let him go and he had to call the police himself to rescue him from the dog."

I smiled and said : "So... What now? Are we to stay here till the end of times, playing bridge?"
"Oh no, there is a practical solution to that", said Ariel and went to the kitchen, coming back after few seconds with a cheese cube. He showed the cheese to the dog and threw it to the kitchen. Gustav raised his ears and ran quickly to the kitchen while Ariel closed the door after him.
"You see? It's easy. The coast is clear now".

I reached the door and turned back to him: "He is not very smart, is he? I mean, after all these times, doesn't he realize that whenever you offer cheese to him it means that people are leaving?"
"Well I thought about it myself for a long time and came to the conclusion that Gustav thinks the same way about us... They are not very smart those humans, are they? After all these times, didn’t they figure out that all I want is that little piece of cheese?".