# The Mississippi Saucer explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Frank Belknap Long.

## What happens

Jimmy and his sister Pigtail Anne witness a flying saucer crash into the Mississippi River, but their uncle Al is more concerned about an impending feud with the Harmon family. After a tense encounter with the Harmons, Jimmy and Pigtail are saved from cottonmouth snakes by a mysterious disk that emerges from the river. The disk returns Uncle Al and Pigtail safely, leaving Jimmy with a lump of gold and a promise of a better future.

## Themes in this chapter

### Fear of the Unknown

Jimmy's terror at the flying saucer and the mysterious disk reflects a deep fear of the unknown, both cosmic and personal.

### Family and Childhood

The bond between Jimmy, Pigtail Anne, and Uncle Al is central, with Uncle Al sacrificing for Jimmy's education and safety.

### Alien Encounters and Otherness

The flying saucer and the disk represent alien encounters that challenge Jimmy's understanding of reality.

## Character check-ins

### Jimmy

The young shantyboat boy who witnesses the flying saucer and is saved from cottonmouths by the disk.

### Pigtail Anne

Jimmy's tomboy sister who first spots the saucer and is later rescued by the disk.

### Uncle Al

Jimmy and Pigtail's guardian, who is feuding with the Harmons and is saved by the disk.

### Jed Harmon

One of the Harmon brothers feuding with Uncle Al over a jug line.

## Key lines

> Straight down out of the sky the disk swooped, a huge, spinning shape as flat as a buckwheat cake swimming in a golden haze of butterfat.

The flying saucer descended rapidly, appearing as a large, flat, spinning object surrounded by a golden glow.

_Describes the initial appearance of the alien disk._

> Uncle Al was like a bright caddis fly building a fine new nest, thatched with kindness, denying himself bright little Mardi Gras pleasures so that Jimmy could go to school and grow wiser than Uncle Al.

Uncle Al selflessly sacrificed his own desires to ensure Jimmy received an education.

_Highlights Uncle Al's generosity and the theme of family sacrifice._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_17_se/chapters/the-mississippi-saucer
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_17_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_17_se/chapters