January 5, 1930
Bonnie Parker meets Clyde Barrow
When Bonnie met Clyde, on 5th January 1930, she was 19 years old and worked as a waitress in Dallas, Texas, while he was 20 and had already served time in prison for several offences, including robbery, safe-cracking and car theft. Associates said prison had changed him from a young tearaway into a hardened and bitter criminal.
The couple met for the first time at mutual friend Clarence Clayās home at 105 Herbert Street, West Dallas. Parker was visiting at the time and Barrow met her by chance. She was said to be in the kitchen, making hot chocolate, when he dropped by.
When they met, there was an immediate attraction, described as ālove at first sightā. Parker had separated from her husband months earlier and had just lost her waitressing job as a result of the closure of Marcoās Cafe. Barrow unexpectedly came into her life when she was at a low ebb.
Writing after Parkerās death, her mother, Emma, described their meeting as coming about āso simply ā as such momentous and life-changing things often doā, because Clyde happened to drop by his friendās house when Bonnie was there.