The Art of Racing in the Rain: Chapter 14 Summary & Analysis

Enzo says the clues were there—Denny spent the winter obsessively playing a racing video game, racing only on American circuits. He ate no sugar and stopped drinking, ran several days per week, and lifted weights—but that Enzo didn't read the clues correctly, until the March day that Denny comes downstairs with his track bag packed and his special helmet. Eve and Zoë seem to know what's going on, but Denny hasn't told Enzo. Enzo is confused as they say goodbye, cocking his head, and Denny tells him that he took the seat in the touring car and is off to Sebring for a race. Enzo is both elated and devastated. He thought Denny couldn't do that, since he'd be away so much, and he worries about the emotional wellbeing of Eve and Zoë.

Enzo mentally collects himself, saying that he's a racer at heart, and racers never let something that's already happened affect what's happening now. He wags his tail enthusiastically, happy that Denny is being selfish and looking out for himself, like a good driver needs to do.

Denny asks Enzo to look over the girls, hugs Zoë, and kisses Eve. As he turns away, Eve grabs him and starts to cry, imploring him to please come back. Denny soothes her, but Eve keeps repeating, "please come back." Denny doesn't know what she means, but Enzo knows the truth: that Eve doesn't fear Denny not returning, but knows that something's wrong with her and fears that it will return when Denny is gone. Enzo thinks of the zebra. He vows to be steadfast in Denny's absence, and Denny finally leaves. Eve collects herself and tells Enzo that she insisted Denny go, and that she thinks it'll be good for her too.

The first two races go well for Zoë, Eve, and Enzo, but poorly for Denny, who finishes 24th and 30th. Denny is frustrated, saying over dinner one night that it's his pit crew's incompetency that's keeping them from winning. Eve suggests getting a new crew as Zoë picks at chicken nuggets and Enzo stays respectfully out of the dining room, listening. Denny says the only way to fix it is to practice, which means going away for a few days the following week to do so. Eve is shaken, and Enzo can taste the adrenaline coming from the dining room. He knows that Eve prepared herself for Denny's race absences, but not sudden absences, and she feels anger and fear.

Enzo hears Eve stand and gather plates and tell Zoë to eat her nuggets. Zoë declares that she's full, and then that she doesn't like nuggets. When Eve replies that she can't leave the table until she eats her nuggets, Zoë shrieks that she doesn't like them. Enzo tastes and smells anxiety, fear, and anger coming from the dining room. The argument escalates as Denny offers to make Zoë a hot dog, Eve refuses, and Zoë begins to cry. Furious, Eve finally agrees to make a hot dog.

Bursting into the kitchen, Eve grabs the hot dog package from the freezer and as she tries to cut it open, the knife slices into her left hand. Eve screams and Denny rushes to help her. He tells her she'll need stitches at the hospital, and Eve vehemently refuses. Denny groans and agrees to try to fix it at home. Zoë and Enzo stand in the doorway, watching, and Denny asks Zoë if she can find bandages for him. Zoë deliberates and finally leaves to find the bandages while Denny and Eve go to the bathroom. When Zoë returns, Enzo guides her to her parents, Denny takes the bandages, and he tells Zoë to go watch TV or play, and then closes the door.

Enzo leads Zoë to the living room where she turns on a kids' show. When Denny and Eve appear a few minutes later, they sit down with Zoë and watch. When the show is over, Eve tells Zoë that the cut isn't bad and she can still make a hot dog, and then Eve bursts into tears, apologizing for being mean. Enzo thinks to himself that the zebra hides everywhere. Zoë starts crying as well, and Denny joins in.

Enzo leaves, feeling as though they'd resolved their issues. He looks for dropped food in the dining room and finds a chicken nugget, which after a sniff, he realizes is rancid. He feels bad for Zoë, but reasons that they probably needed this moment together that the fight brought. Enzo says that in racing, your car goes where your eyes go, which is another way of saying that which you manifest is before you. He knows it's true, and that racing doesn't lie.