Eight-year-old Delilah sits in her favorite tree in Old North St. Louis, the tree she and Momma tied a bow on for Christmas just before she was deployed to Iraq. She sits for as long as Grandmomma lets her. She watches her neighbors and what's happening on her block. Who keeps stealing Mr. Horowitz's newspaper? Why doesn't Mr. Horowitz like Mr. and Mrs. Abu? Why are Roy Roy and Pouchie always trying to get Delilah's best friend, Stanley, into trouble? She watches Ms. Wanda and Ms. Rita tending their garden. She wonders why the Dobolinas don't like her tree, the tree that Junebug brings his baby to sit under while he and his friends play in their drum circle. This tree belongs to everyone on the block. But what Delilah does mostly is wish for the cicadas to stop singing so fall can come and for peace on earth so Momma will return home.