"Stella!"

Books at Eclectics revisits New Orleans to hear more of the story of author Hailey North's menagerie. This week, Hailey introduces the supremely relaxed Stanley Kowalski.

I'd always meant to adopt two kittens after Snickers died, but after I brought Mocha home I thought, okay I'll just keep Mocha. But she needed a friend because my work hours were so long. I met a cat at my vet's office, well, an adorable fuzzy long haired little kitten that was part Maine Coon, and I wanted to bring him home. One night I did and he and Mocha HATED each other. So I took him back. But four months later I stopped by and learned he was still living at the vet's office. My heart broke. I took him home that day. He was as fuzzy and adorable as ever. Only problem, he was cute but not exactly smart. I called him, jokingly, Fabio. Heh heh heh. Then I realized that wasn't fair to him. So I told him I wouldn't name him until he told me what his name was. Fair enough. He settled into stealing Mocha's toys.

Later that day I heard this voice in my head crying out, "STELLA! STELLA!" (Okay, it was close in time to the spring Tennessee Williams festival in the French Quarter and the annual Stella shouting contest. When I heard "Stella!" in my head I ran into my kitchen, found Stanley, and said, "That's it. You're telling me your name is Stanley." So Stanley Kowalski lives on.

Stanley loves everyone! He was on the feature spot I did on the local CBS affiliate for Twelve for the Road, a Christmas period show that features local celebs mixing up non alcoholic drinks). He is soooo sweet!

Visit Hailey North.

Stanley is relaxing with the gang at the Friday Ark.