print FILE "Now going to delete $file\n"; if(unlink $file) { print FILE "$file has been removed (says 'unlink')\n"; if(-e $file) { print FILE "Surprise, surprise! $file is still here\n"; } } else { print FILE "'unlink' says: $!\n"; if(-e $file) { print FILE "And indeed, we still see $file\n"; } else { print FILE "A miracle occured! $file is gone!\n"; } }