When I was in 3rd grade, I used to go home with a friend after school on certain days. Well one day she was home sick, but I didn't know what else to do, so I got on her bus like normal and got off at her house. I didn't want to disturb her or her mom since she was sick so I walked past the house and into the woods behind. It was a warm day (70s) and sunny, so I plopped down and ended up falling asleep.
I woke up to people calling my name so I walked out of the woods....and into a swarm of people including my friend's mom, my parents, the bus driver, and the police, plus some neighbors. Everyone was sure I had had something awful happen to me since no one had seen me after I got off the bus. Yea I was horribly embarrassed and my parents were very relieved.
A little girl getting off the bus at her own house and staying with a neighbor sounds like a normal plan of action for a locked out latch key kid to me, though I'm sure it was scary for the parents. Imagine what they would've said if she had camped out in the woods like me?!