Back in Mexico | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Back in Mexico | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ellen Janson
04/15/26
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Alejandro proudly took his seat in the first class section of the airplane. He had never flown anything except coach, but his boss told him this luxury was a small trade off. He needed an employee who knew Mexico City like the back of his hand and could speak the language fluently. Alejandro’s skillset was a perfect match for opening the company’s newest branch, and his company was willing to pay him handsomely for it.

Upon landing, Alejandro made his way to baggage claim in the familiar airport. Not much had changed in the eight years he’d been living in the United States. He would return to his home town for a minute to have a meal with some family, but of course he wouldn’t be staying with them. His secretary had made a reservation for him at one of Mexico City’s finest hotels.

Before Alejandro even stepped out of the cab, a small hand was in his face.
“Please, mister, money.”
Alejandro knew this game. Go to the expensive places where the rich people are. The hotel employees would chase the street urchins - that’s what they called them - away, but if even one businessman obliged, it was worth it.

Looking down at the dirty barefoot child, Alejandro remembered it well. He reached into his pocket while he reprimanded the young boy.
”You need to go to school. I used to be doing what you’re doing, and look at me now. I’m staying in this beautiful hotel and working for a big company.” He couldn’t help feeling his chest swell despite the boy's indifference. The hand.
”Money, please mister.”

Alejandro felt a tiny prick of self consciousness, but he continued to boast. Sure, he had been helped along the way. His abuela would say it was all of her prayers. His mama would say it was all of her sacrifices. But Alejandro knew it was mostly himself - he had worked very hard to get where he was today. Very hard.

By the time Alejandro made it to his room, he didn’t have much time to change and get settled before his first meeting. He realized he was very short on time as he ran through the lobby, out to the street to hail a cab.

Instantly, he knew his mistake. As two men covered his head, he berated himself for not scheduling a car with the concierge.
“Never, never, never hail a cab in Mexico City,” he remembered warning his coworkers.

The men began peppering him with questions about his place of employment. Apparently their intent was to use him as a hostage. They began striking him and cursing at him, threatening to kill him if he didn’t produce the phone number of someone from his company with access to cash.

Alejandro thought of his wife and new young son. He could not die. He gave them his boss’s contact information, but when they got his voicemail, they became outraged and demanded another employee’s phone number.

Alejandro could smell his own fear. He couldn’t think straight and worried he might pass out. His vision became blurry. Suddenly, a memory from his childhood - his abuela telling him to call on the name of Jesus - came to mind. He began to pray the “Our Father” out loud.

His captors became almost frenzied. They screamed at him to stop, but Alejandro felt a calm wash over him and he would not, could not, stop calling out to God.
“Jesus. Jesus, please help me,” he cried.
The men turned on one another and began yelling in a dialect Alejandro only partially understood. They seemed to be fighting over whether to kick him out of their car, worried he was putting a curse on them.

Alejandro prayed louder, feeling a peace wash over him despite their beatings and the chaos in the cab. As they came to a bend, one of the men reached over, opened the door, and pushed Alejandro out of the moving car. He rolled to a stop at some bushes on the side of the road. Scraped and bruised, but alive.

Alejandro laid in the gravel and cried with relief. He made his way to a run down house, much like the one he grew up in, to use the phone. He had no idea where he was, but he knew he desperately needed God - no matter how successful he became. His abuela was right. He needed to call on the mighty name of Jesus.

Based on a true story

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