You know, this may sound trite, because I know you probably feel like it was your fault the guy scared the crap out of your family, but, if he hadn't found that little plastic gun, he may have opted for a kitchen knife as his threatening weapon of choice. If he'd had a knife to your mother's throat, he may not have hesitated when she screamed. Perhaps fate made you beg just a little more that day, or your parents bend a little more easily that day so that when that man broke in, what he found was a harmless toy!