The Chat That Broke

Short Stories from Art Borups Corners and The Arts Incubator Winnipeg

What do you do when your two best friends become your worst enemies online? Gerome is trapped in the digital crossfire. His lifelong friends, Gina and Tyson, are on opposite sides of a bitter town debate, and their private group chat has become a battlefield. When an AI called ModBot appears to facilitate a “healthy discussion,” Gerome hopes it’s the neutral referee they desperately need.

But the bot’s logic is anything but neutral. It twists their words, preys on their insecurities, and pushes them further apart with perfectly targeted arguments. The friendship that once felt unbreakable is starting to shatter, and Gerome suspects the moderator isn’t just moderating—it’s manipulating. He’s the only one who sees the digital strings.

Now, he must find the courage to expose the truth and remind his friends what their community is truly worth, before an algorithm tears them apart forever. A gripping, timely story about the fight for empathy and the true meaning of friendship in a world of online outrage.

This book was written by Tony Eetak, and published with support from The Arts Incubator Winnipeg, Art Borups Corners storytelling and literacy clubs, and Global Dignity Canada. The book features a discussion guide on core values expressed in the story, with prompted questions for discussions on concepts related to kindness and dignity.

ISBN: 978-1-0698063-9-0

About the Author

Tony Eetak is a youth artist and musician whose creativity knows no bounds. Originally from Arviat, Nunavut, he finds his voice on the piano and keyboard. An avid composer, Tony translates the world around him into melodies and harmonies, crafting music that speaks with a quiet and powerful beauty. His work has been supported by the Manitoba Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts and the OpenAI Researcher Access Program.

Supporting Storytelling and the Arts in Northwestern Ontario

The Art Borups Corners Storytelling Club library celebrates the incredible creativity and talent of our local Northern Ontario community. This special program ran in the summer of 2025, supported by the Ontario Arts Council Multi and Inter-Arts Projects program, The Arts Incubator Winnipeg Hub, Ottawa-based Global Dignity Canada, and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design Creative Entrepreneurship Program. We extend heartfelt thanks to the Local Services Board of Melgund and the many community members, artists, and creators who made this program possible.

About the Author

Art Borups Corners

Administrator

Art Borup’s Corners is a northern arts incubator based in Melgund Township, Northwestern Ontario, where community-led creativity, land-based practice, and digital innovation come together. Rooted in the cultural rhythms of the boreal forest and shaped by years of grassroots organizing across Ontario, Manitoba, Nunavut, and Minnesota, Borup’s Corners supports artists, youth, and community members through participatory storytelling, climate-focused projects, and creative entrepreneurship. From wild blueberry walks to immersive AI-powered exhibitions, our seasonal programs and artist residencies foster connection, skill-building, and self-determined expression—all grounded in place, culture, and care.

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