In a small Finnish town in the 1920s, 12-year-old Pietari Jormalainen lives in a lively courtyard surrounded by wooden houses. While God sees everything and everyone - and takes care of his Mother up in heaven - Pietari too has a lot of interesting and eccentric people to observe. The newest addition to the bustling neighbourhood is Father's new wife Karoliina who is determined to put all things in order.