Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a soccer ball stuck to the wall?

Those were all the thoughts running through my heads on Sept. 17 when they looked up at the northeast wall of Maywood and saw a round, gray object glued onto the bricks, hanging just above a window on the third floor. 

No, it’s not a soccer ball that somehow got stuck up there. It’s a wasp’s nest!

The hive has been sitting comfortably on the red bricks of Maywood for the past week. From far below, the wasps appear as little black dots flying in and out of the hole at the bottom of the nest. It’s active and appears peaceful.

The circular hive resembles one crafted by Paper Wasps, which aren’t aggressive unless provoked. They will die off with the first frost, but as autumn has just begun, and considering the fluctuation of the Massachusetts weather, there is no certainty on how soon the cold will come. Bee sting allergies are common, and no joke! It may not be wise to risk the wait.

We asked the Wasps for a quote, but they refused to comment on the situation. So much for the house-warming party.