Just In A Name: Part 3 (short story): critique most welcomed

You'd think I'd be happy to finally be home, but the silence was uncomfortable. I sat down at the kitchen table in sort of a daze. A siren in the distance brought me to my senses and I noticed it was starting to get dark outside. Maybe it was my military training as I started thinking about getting organized. I took a small notebook near the phone and started writing down things. I wrote down shower, check food, do laundry, call friends, put air conditioner back in the window, etc. I absent mindedly was writing things because I felt so tired. I decided this could wait and went to my room. My bed was inviting and I instantly went to sleep. I was dreaming about the crazy old lady I had met in the airport. For some reason I thought I was living in her home and she was clanging a cowbell calling me to supper. She kept clanging and clanging until I finally realized it was the phone ringing.

I jumped out of bed, grabbed the phone and said, 'Hello.' It was Peggy Sue. She sounded sunny and cheerful. 'Did I wake you up soldier boy?' I mumbled, 'Yes sir' and I could hear her laughing. I was still in a sleepy daze as I heard her say, 'So I'm a sir to you am I?' I just said, 'What?' and looked at the clock. It was 8 o'clock in the morning. My head started to clear. I was wondering why in the world she was calling? I heard her say, 'Are you still there?' I said, 'Yes' and thought about telling her she had woke me up, but bit my tongue. She said, 'I bet your momma didn't leave anything in the frig. I made you some breakfast and some coffee. Would you like me to bring it over?'

I wasn't thinking about breakfast. Peggy Sue was on my mind as I said, 'Oh man would I like to see you again.' I heard her giggle and then she said, 'I'll be right over.' I could've kicked myself. What a stupid thing to say. I went to the bathroom to quickly wash up. The doorbell rang and I ran to the door. Peggy Sue was holding some plates dressed in a silly costume that had little smiling hot dogs all over it. She certainly looked cute. She looked at me gawking at her and said, 'Well, can I come in or are you just going to gawk?' I said, 'Sorry, please come in.' She went straight to the kitchen, set the table all proper like, then motioned for me to sit down. My heart just melted at this feast. Bacon, scrambled eggs, grits and some soda biscuits. She took a thermos out of her bag and poured me a cup of coffee.

The smell was like heaven and I just dug in and started eating like I was in an Army mess hall. Peggy Sue just looked at me with a frown. I said, 'What's wrong?' In a quiet voice she said, 'Don't you say grace before you eat?' I thought this was funny and said, 'Are you serious?' and laughed. She wasn't laughing but then gave me a weak smile. I was glad she didn't start giving me a sermon. I wanted to change the mood, so I said, 'That's quite an outfit your wearing' and laughed. She gave me a look and I thought to myself, 'Are you trying to make her think you're a total cad?' She tried to sound a bit indignant and said, 'This is my work uniform at the Hot Dog Emporium. Best hot dogs in the world.' She smiled and laughed. Peggy Sue offered me another cup of coffee, which I gladly took.

I was about finished with breakfast when I saw Peggy Sue looking at the list I had made the night before. She was giggling, so I asked her, 'What's so funny about my list?' She started reading it to me. Nothing seemed to have any reason for her obvious comical delight. She then stopped and said, 'There's only one more item on your list and it must be awfully important because it's in capital letters.' She was now laughing hard and I reached over and grabbed the list out of her hand. I looked and there in capital letters as she had said was written PEGGY SUE. My face turned red. I did not remember writing this and for her to find this was..., well, it was just plain embarrassing. I tried to explain that I was tired when I wrote this, but it seemed no matter what I said it just made her laugh more. I finally said, 'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you.' She said, 'I made the soldier boy's list' and giggled. She then looked at the clock and said, 'I have to go to work soon.'