Gregor Mendel was a monk who lived in what is now the Czech Republic in the first part of the nineteenth century. Generally regarded as the founder of modern genetics, he labored for eight years analyzing the inheritance of multiple characters in peas. Anyone who has taken high school biology is probably familiar with his work. What is not as widely known is that, while a member of the monastery, he was a substitute teacher who taught physics to grade school children. In order to secure a permanent position, he took a state-mandated certification examination. He failed, largely due to an insufficient background in biology. To make up for his deficits, he was sent to the University of Vienna to study for two years. After completing his tenure there, he took the exam again, and failed for a second time, walking out of the room without handing in his paper. The reason for his failure is unknown. It's a great mystery. This work is a totally fictional account of a possible explanation. It brings broken vows, sexual identity, an illicit romance, an illegitimate child, and religious intolerance to the story. Have fun reading.
