13Stephen Morrison’s final year at the Naval Academy proved to be relatively uneventful. After he was released from the hospital, he reported for his summer cruise and, upon returning to Annapolis in the fall, he noticed that life had definitely improved. Although still in Coventry, most of his classmates were actually more respectful and, even to a small degree, friendlier toward him. From his first day back, he noticed that the anonymous notes with the religious epithets had ceased. He also learned that his boxing match with Russell had become something of a legend at the Naval Academy. His classmates would frequently refer to it as if it were a pivotal event in the school’s history.
One thing that hadn’t changed was the academic competition between him and Jared Russell. Both young men
