October 28, 1906
Remanded into custody, State Facility at Cedar Grove: one Johann Blück, clockmaker of Paterson, New Jersey.
Johann’s mania became unbearable to his wife. He would stay in his workshop day and night, neither eating nor sleeping. When asked why he was working so hard, Johann would jabber hysterically or mutter incoherently, his moods either morose or exultant, each extreme becoming more violent as though Joahnn, too, was governed by some wildly swinging internal pendulum.
The hornet’s nest appeared in the window of his room at Cedar Grove a few weeks after his suicide. All efforts to dislodge it failed.
Sinister little tale. Seems like Johann has stirred up a hornets nest, even from the beyond. Loved especially “…governed by some wildly swinging internal pendulum.”
The new site looks great!
Glad you like it. Maybe the hornet’s nest was in him the whole time?
An enigmatc metamorphosis. It’s the intense activity that gives him away
That’s good. He was certainly buzzing in life, too wired to let go, I suppose.
He’s going nowhere! Thanks for the picture.
Click to read my FriFic tale!
You’ve painted a vivid picture about this man and his mania – chillingly done!
p.s. thanks for supplying the photo prompt
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
I think of clockmakers as going crazy because of all that infernal tick-tocking, but the wild buzzing of hornets (imagined or real) would do it too.
The clockmaker left a bit of his insanity behind. Well-written story!
Two lovely metaphors for Johann’s mind. Imaginative use of the prompt.
It must be so scary to have to have that non-stop buzz going on in your head and making you go-go-go, slowly losing your mind in the process.
He may have ended his life but his mania lives on…
Expertly done, a mind like a hornet’s nest that never settles.
Johann was probably an extreme workaholic. Did not understand the link with hornet’s nest.
Mystery solved! I couldn’t see that it’s a hornet’s nest, in fact I imagined several other things, not that.Don’t you love seeing what everyone creates from your photo? I love the idea of a buzzing brain, and then the wasp nest showing up. Wonderful!
It seems the ‘hornet spirit’ that made him so mad now moved into the hornets’ nest. (I took it for a wasps’ nest). Intriguing and dark fun. And thank you for the picture.
Dear Josh,
Some very tight expressive writing. (You and your A.E. ;) ) Next time I see hornets perhaps I should be on the lookout for spooks. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks, Rochelle. Hundred-word prompts have their own challenges, but I find the reading and commenting on others’ posts to be the most formidable. ;-)
Pendulum AND hornets nest. That was one disturbed fellow.
(Thanks fo the image.)
A skilfully told story – I really like the clockmaker and hornets’ nest images – they give the story real impact.
great use of the hornet’s nest as a metaphor woven into the story. well done.
I wonder if the facility will ever be able to use that room again? I certainly wouldn’t want to be put there! This is a great story :)
A very sinister story with scary tones in every line.
Great photo this week … congratulations on being selected.
Isadora
Chillingly sinister!
A dark and tragic story. Great use of the hornets as a symbol of madness? torment? karma? My mind’s taking this in many directions and they all work.
His torment, whether portrayed as buzzing insects or incessant pendulum swings, is palpable. It makes you feel compassion both for the man driven to suicide and the family who had to put up with hiIm. One would hope his fate might be better today, thanks to pharmaceuticals!
What an intriguing tale!
Mmmmm! Did the wife commit him so SHE wouldn’t go crazy?