Little Girl Pens Heartwarming Letter to Her Father's Boss

by Amy Hatch (Subscribe to Amy Hatch's posts) Nov 25th 2009 9:00AM

Categories: Money & Work, Holidays, In The News, Amazing Kids

It's easy to feel like the world is a mess -- economic troubles, wars abroad, kids who go hungry right here at home -- but one little girl in Oregon renews our faith in the human spirit with her touching letter to her father's boss.

Cheyenne Hess, 12, worried that her dad Andy wasn't going to get steady work: He lost his job when his company went out of business last December, according to a story in the Register-Guard newspaper. By this spring, the family was selling its possessions to keep up with the bills.

As Andy continued to search for a full-time job, he picked up sporadic day work from Ed Read, operations manager at Oregon Motorcoach Center.

Sadly, though, it wasn't enough.
Finally, little Cheyenne, a seventh-grader at Prairie Mountain School in West Eugene, took matters into her own hands. She wrote a letter to Read on behalf of her father:

"Dear Ed Read,

Please give my Dad a job at Oregon Motorcoach. He has been out of a job since December 2008 and he deserves this job and you deserve such a great painter, he has a great painting skill. He has painted cars, coaches and he always has a good attitude about what he has to do. He has always been a good Dad, painter and lovely husband and friend. If you hire him you would be getting a good deal and a lot of new customers for life. My Dad has never been rude to anyone so you won't have to worry about having meetings with him. So please, please, please hire him. He always has great ideas at meetings and never needs an assistant.

Sincerely,
Cheyenne Hess."

Andy discovered the note in his lunchbox, but didn't show it to his boss until after he was fully hired by the company in July 2009.

"I didn't want to put him on the spot," he tells the Register-Guard. "When I read it I got all choked up. It's still hard for me to talk about. You don't think of seventh-graders worrying about what goes on with their moms and dads and yet here she is, worried about me. She's just an awesome kid."

Read thinks so, too; he saw the heartfelt note after he hired Andy, and says he'll treasure it forever.

What renews your faith in the human spirit during this week of giving thanks?

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Comments (59)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

shirleyhasting 11-26-2009 @ 7:47AM

In the way kids are raised of its all about me me me, I think Mom & Dad have shown this child the true meaning of being a family. What a Child full of love for her Father. This letter has brought a tear to my eyes and profound sense of gratitude for a Mom & Dad that taught their family about what it really means to be a family. Happy Thanksgiving & thank you for sharing that there is still so much love in this world

John 11-29-2009 @ 8:37AM

Kids need nurturing as they are growing up. Many parents these days don't spend enough time with their kids. They give them cell phones, computers and video game boxes. Then they head off to the TV. They don't need a cell phone, they need you. Moms should be home taking care of the kids and making sure their needs are met. Family structure is at an all time low. This is what will destroy a nation. If you can't see that then you need to open your eyes. Stop thinking of yourself and think about your kids. This world is a mess and it's not getting any better.

Matt 11-29-2009 @ 9:10AM

When is this nation going to wake up, you can't do it without God. It's not going to get any better. Those that do love God are going to have to strengthen your faith because the worst is yet to come. You want to create jobs in this country than quit buying stuff from Japan and China. This country isn't going to recover until it cleans up its morals and get rid of the things that bring it down like abortions, homosexuality, the immoral stuff that they put in movies and TV. Family structure needs work, not divorce. Has anyone noticed how many single Moms there are? That right there puts a strain on the kids and the economy. Everyone complains about how companies moved out of the country yet we still support them. A lot of work is also outsource overseas because they can get it down for $3 an hour. This country is no longer self-sufficient, a dangerous position for any country to be in. So complain all you want, it's not going to fix things. It takes action on everyones part. You might say what's God got to do with it? Just read Deuteronomy 28 and you can compare what it says there to what is happening now. People just don't want to face the facts, they would rather live in misery. We need God! - www.itrustgodonly.com

Karim 11-29-2009 @ 2:59PM

you know your kids are how you raise thme. I'm not a racist but man sometimes i go to these african american community & wow you hear these mothers cursing at these little kids ages from 1 to 18. f this f that it's just not right. Then you wonder where we get these gang bangers and hustlers. Raise your kid right & this country would be a better place

Amelia 11-26-2009 @ 8:13AM

I remember growing up always aware of the problems my parents were having, financial, in their relationship, and their concerns about their three children.
Somehow they instilled in us caring for each other, consideration for each other and loving (if not always liking) each other.
I remember praying for their problems to be solved before my own 'wishes'.
I went as far as asking other relatives for help who misunderstood a child, and that frustrated me.
We never had much 'stuff' and instant gratification was an unknown.
I feel sorry for so many of today's kids who have grown up spoiled, self-centered and used to instant gratification. When the real world hits unless their parents can afford to support them forever, I am afraid it will hit hard.
My parents taught me the meaning of a dollar and work and setting goals.
Years later they would apologize because we had to work through high school and put ourselves through college which all three of us did. I thanked them for the gift of learning young to live within my means, the meaning of family, and that people are so much more important than things.
This girl's parents should be very proud of her and the job they have done so far in raising her. I am so grateful to read this today for I am tired of knowing too many self-centered, spoiled children/young adults.

me 11-26-2009 @ 12:10PM

amelia...you are so right. i was raised like you and i continue to raise my 3 daughters like this as well. it's good to work hard for what you want. it makes you a better person and teaches you values. it's not just handed to you.

NRastro 11-26-2009 @ 8:22AM

Kids are full of natural compassion, which is lovely. But I think this whole story just underscores what a disaster our recent economy has been, especially under the winner-take-all policies of unfettered power in the hands of employers, and too little in the hands of employees.

I think this is also a developmental disaster for this little girl! At this age, she shouldn't be worrying about getting her dad a job! I'm not saying she should be sheltered from the fact that life offers hard knocks, but I think it's a really bad thing that we have a generation of young people coming along who may be growing up without faith that economic security is possible.

Fortunately, I think some of these problems are reversible. I think in time incentives in the system can be realigned so that it's less easy for talentless managers and company-owners to hire a bunch of people when times are ok, and then throw them under the bus when the economic cycle turns. Businesses that aren't sustainable in a full business cycle don't deserve all the cushion that 1) tax policy and 2) the ability to outsource to cheaper labor and 3) unfettered ability to lay people off, give them.

I'm not saying "jobs for life for all!" but we can't allow our society to deteriorate into us all just being day laborers for whoever can borrow some bucks to hang out a shingle and start (or merge together) a company and, "oh, well!" if it doesn't work out. We can't keep raising more and more kids who start worrying about their family's survival at such a young age.

And I say all this in the context of remembering the cynicism of what Gen X (people born in late 1960s, early 70s) kids felt in seeing their parents' companies having no loyalty to them. It's now 20 times worse. No matter what, we can't let it get still worse from here.

UsToo 11-26-2009 @ 11:23AM

My husband recently lost his job too. We are in the same boat. He had worked steady in his field for over 30 years, since he was 18 and I was 16. I had a good job too, but I was hurt at work and wound up disabled for life, cannot work, social security and retirement benefits don't compare to what i was making. We were doing so well that we had two more babies when I was 34 and 39. Now they are nine and 14 and although they started out life with everything a child could want, now we have a hard time clothing them. We have 4 grandkids with another due in April and it breaks me up pretty bad when they come over and eat up the snacks that are for my kids but how can a Grandma say no to very small grandchildren? Now here we are about to go into our 50's, have always worked and neither of us is employed. We might lose our house. My youngest daughter doesn't want us to lose the house because it's the only home she's ever known and we have pictures of her on her fathers lap on the day we brought her home from the hospital for the first time (Christmas Eve). She is the youngest kid around here and all the neighbors know her from birth so she feels like everyone around here is her family. We got my son a Rottweiller puppy for his 13th birthday and that big dog is part of our family. Where will we gind a place to live that allows Rottweillers? Everyone thinks they are mean dogs because they are huge and they look mean when they bark, but those barks are their only way of "talking" to us, just like any other dog. They don't realize how loud they sound, lol. Anyway, this is just to say that we, like many other families, are going through a crisis that we really had no way of planning for. We put into retirement plans, put in good time on our jobs, had good benefits and then the country tunred upside down and everything we worked for is fading away. We can't even sell our house if we wanted to.

pbc444 11-26-2009 @ 1:04PM

To "UsToo", there unfortunately are many "UsToo's" these days , seemingly more than ever , EVER before and one reason why there are many angry voices heard as well, in part to vent frustrations due to situations so many who have played "by the rules", given their best efforts in doing so, worked hard and more but now find themselves seemingly tossed aside while the top echelons seem truly unfazed and just grabbing more and more for their personal coffers to be continually filled at all others expense and hardships are of no consquences when thrust upon others as long as not themselves!! We are indeed at a national crossroad in regard to many issues in our nation for the answers to our problems are complex and varied and will take time to come to fruitation which will serves the truer majority and NOT JUST THE FEW. No easy answers, no magic wands around and no 'CHANGE" is possible JUST due to wanting or wishing it , it takes supported effort and we need to work together to solve these delimma's that are so very crucial to us all. Perhaps and most likely, little consolation to hear/know you are NOT alone in your struggles, that others are in the midst of similar situations...heartfelt empathy seems of little consolation, but is offered sincerely just have faith that this too will pass ...it is a definite struggle to do, but so very necessary , especially when times as these come our way.

WARREN 11-26-2009 @ 2:16PM

I PRAY YOU DO NOT LOSE YOUR HOUSE, I'M A RETIRED NAVY CHIEF PETTY OFFICER AND DID OVER 20 YEARS IN THE NAVY. I FEEL THE PROBLEMS IN THIS COUNTRY CAME ABOUT BY THE RICH JERKS RUNNING THIS COUNTRY FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL. ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS KEEPING MILLIONS IN THEIR CHECKBOOKS AND KEEPING MILLIONS IN THE POCKETS OF BIG CORPORATIONS THAT KEEP SHIPPING JOBS TO PLACES LIKE CHINA. THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW PEOPLE LIKE ME AND YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY. I GREW UP IN THE 1950'S IN ST.LOUIS, BACK THEN WE DID NOT EVEN HAVE TO LOCK OUR DOORS, NOW ST.LOUIS IS NUMBER 2 IN THE US FOR CRIME. THE US USED TO MAKE THINGS HERE AND PEOPLE HAD JOBS. I SPENT CHRISTMAS AND NEWYEARS OF 1968,1969 AND 1970 IN VIETNAM, THE PEOPLE THAT SUPPLIED THE WEAPONS THAT KILLED OVER 50,000 OF OUR TROOPS WAS CHINA, AND NOW WE SEND OUR JOBS OVER TO CHINA SO THE RICH GUYS IN THIS COUNTRY CAN GET MORE MONEY. CRIME IN THE US IS REALLY OUT OF CONTROL, THEY SHOULD NEVER HAVE DONE AWAY WITH THE DRAFT, THEN MAYBE MOST OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY WOULD NOT BE ROBBING AND KILLING AND DEALING DRUGS, THEY MAY HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING BY SPENDING 12 WEEKS IN BOOTCAMP AND 2 YEARS IN THE ARMY. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

Linda Thomas 11-26-2009 @ 6:41PM

I know it s hard i have been dvorced since 96 an worked for years till 2000 whe i got hurt at work an could not work for over 2 mos an lost the job ended up on s.s that does not go far an I have a disabiled daughter on s.s an i have been job hunting now 9 mos , I know God will help me an guide me through an God will help you an your family too i have 2 grandchildern an 3 grown daughters it is hard to say no to grand childern , i will pray for you an yourfamily an God will help you . I have apray line i call at world reviel church in kanas city , they pray an beleive for god to work miracles, I have faith in god an it keeps me going it will do the same for you, God Bless, Linda

El 11-29-2009 @ 10:44AM

Why not have the parent of the grandchildren bring snacks over for their kids when they visit. No need to deprive your children of their snacks. Be a good mother as well as grandmother.

Lindsay 11-29-2009 @ 2:29PM

I too am in your situation, except my husband & I are only 30 but we have 4 kids. Hewas in the ARMY but since he got out our financial life has gone belly up. My kids are alot like this little girl, we try to hide as much as possible from them, but they do know money is tight & daddy needs to find steady work. This Christmas I will suck up my pride & try to get donations from local charities for the kids. My oldest said we can postpone Christmas for an extra week so all the stuff is on sale so I don't have to spend as much(what a good kid) So I understand where you & alot of our country is coming from right now. You mentioned a Rottweiler, I have a GreatDane, it takes extra effort & time, but if you have to move, rest assure you will find some place that will allow big dogs(no apartments, find people who are renting their house out). Like I tell my kids, stay strong, this won't last forever, use this horrible time in life as a learning experience & prepare for future problems, & most of all...we can lose everything we own but that can ALL be replaced, let this build a stronger family bond because in the end we only have each other. Money comes & goes...it just is on the "going" track for right now, it will "come" again...just wait & see! Good luck to all of us in a hard financial time right now, it will get better!!

john anderson 11-26-2009 @ 9:51AM

its so nice to hear a really great story in these timeas of hardship.What a great family to have raised a yougster so caring.thanks for posting good news for a change

kngtrk2 11-26-2009 @ 9:23AM

Thank God for family.I was laid off work yesterday, that's right on Thanksgiving eve.

gary 11-26-2009 @ 11:17AM

I wish you the best in your search for a new job. It always amazes me how callous and unfeeling the world is today.

Kaye 11-30-2009 @ 11:29PM

My faith, even though it is strong in my love for my Lord, was lifted when I read the letter that Cheyenne wrote about her father. God bless her and her family.
I raised my daughter alone except for a few short years and I am so very proud of her. She has never given me any reason to worry about her actions as she has never been involved in anything questionable, is happily married, lives a Christian life and they are raising their children the same. I am planning to be with them in a little while for Thanksgiving and could not be happier about it. I am loved and respected even by the littlest one and I love them so. God has guided her well. God bless everyone today. Don't forget to give thanks for lving in the United States of America where we can worship freely the way we choose.

Sara 11-26-2009 @ 9:41AM

Kudos to the Hess' for raising such a well rounded, insightful child! She will go far because of the values her parents instilled in her. May we ALL strive to be parents who put values first and foremost in our parenting roles.

Mrs Rude Dawg 11-26-2009 @ 9:47AM

This is a sad world when children worry about adult problems,children should only worry about having fun and being a kid. There will be plenty of worry when they grow up.........

biscuit0630 11-26-2009 @ 9:49AM

You know this young lady's letter moved me to tears--It is so nice to know that as many sacrifices as we make for our children and family that they are not always blind to them--It is so hard to try to keep a level head in times like these and for a child to both notice and make the acknowledgment is phonomenal to me--I am so thankful to be able to see another year and be surrounded by people who still have compassion for humanity that tears are my only real expression of this joy--Thank you sir so much for sharing your story--It is truly uplifting--

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