Shop's `bull' back - kids keep eye on it

The purple cow's purloined paramour has been back for a month,but South Side children still are checking to make sure it is at homeon the roof of the Purple Cow ice cream shop.

The 100-pound purple papier-mache and fiberglass bull, namedRambo, was heisted, and perhaps hoisted, from the top of the shop at10409 S. Western in the wee hours of Nov. 16. That left its indoormate, a purple cow named Lavender, all alone.

Though Rambo was returned a few days later, its absence wassorely noted by hundreds of children in the store's Birthday Club,owner John Homan said.

"We're still getting calls; they mainly come from children," hesaid. "We've had hundreds, maybe close to a thousand calls.

"People are stopping by, looking at the roof. Now they arecoming back saying they're glad to see it back."

The bull was returned by a Jerry Adams, who said he was not thepurple-trator of the crime but found it on a sidewalk, Homan said.

"I haven't filed a complaint. I'm trying to find out who didit," said Homan, who is upset because no witnesses have steppedforward.

"If they can take a cow that size off the roof and no policemansees that, the question is how safe are the children, property, otherthings? That's the main point."

Homan is disturbed also by the gouges and cracks in Rambo'shide, apparently caused by the rustler or rustlers dropping thebeast, which he is told was made in 1923.

"Nobody can come up with a cost for this. It is not somethingyou can go to the market and buy," Homan said.