Question

review the twenty-second and twenty-third paragraphs.
21 i drop the letter onto the pile of papers in front of him and say, \why dont you just have your robot go through grandpas papers!\ breathlessly, i continue, \and how could people vacation on mars? theyd freeze the instant they got there. i mean—\ by now, im laughing so hard i can barely talk—\i mean, earl, be realistic!\
22 dad looks utterly confused. then he reads the letter. \jeez,\ he says, shaking his head. \id forgotten all about this.\ he starts laughing, and suddenly i see it! the boy with the hose is right in front of me.
23 dad stands up. his chair falls over, but he doesnt notice. \come on,\ he says, with a loopy smile. \lets dig up the time capsule.\
what does michael mean when he says that the boy with the hose is right in front of him?
the boy who was in the picture has come into the house and is standing in front of michael.
his fathers expression reminds michael of how his father looked in his childhood picture.
his fathers childhood picture is on the pile of papers directly in front of michael.

Explanation:

When Dad laughs, Michael sees the "boy with the hose"—this refers to recognizing his father's childlike, playful expression that matches how Dad looked in his childhood photo (the boy with the hose). The other options are incorrect: no actual boy enters, and the photo isn't stated to be on the paper pile.

Answer:

His father's expression reminds Michael of how his father looked in his childhood picture.