A single engine aircraft Pilot misunderstood the Local Controller's traffic pattern entry instructions. After the error was recognized; the Pilot was treated in an unprofessional manner by the Controller.

Narrative

I was returning from a cross country from the west. I contacted AEG Tower over the Rio Puerco. The Tower was busy with several inbounds from the north; east and from the south. He cleared me as number two (best of my recollection) for Runway 17 and to report mid field downwind. A few minutes later he called me to report my location; and I stated I was on extended crosswind for Runway 17. The Tower then continued to talk with another aircraft complaining about the traffic delay I was causing and he didn't know where I was. I had to break into the conversation (not pertinent to flight) with the other pilot to inform him I was just south of the sludge plant. I was a little frustrated that the Tower was talking to another aircraft about not knowing where I was and not talking to me! At this time I should have realized we were having communication difficulty; and I should have spoken up. He then claimed to have me in sight; cleared me as number one; and told me I was to proceed to downwind for Runway 17. I received a call while I was on downwind that I was supposed to be on a right downwind not a left downwind. From that point on the Tower was extremely irate; and started re-vectoring traffic while making what I thought were unprofessional comments to me through the remainder of my flight. For the life of me I do not remember him saying left or right downwind; but he could have. I believe some of the contributing factors were fatigue on my part from two plus hours in hot bumpy air; as well as not speaking up when I first realized we were having communication problems. I could have made more precise location calls as well to minimize the confusion. I will be getting out to fly more often to keep up my proficiency up and will be verifying with traffic pattern is to be used (right or left traffic) if I do not hear one offered up. I also believe other contributing factor are the closing of Runway 22-4 which has greatly increased the workload of the Tower personnel; as well as the Tower having a non-critical to flight conversation with another pilot. If the Tower had insisted on a read back the incident could have also been avoided. On my part; I will be calling up my instructor and inviting him for some sight seeing as well as flight training.