#NOTE THE CODE: local($nmbr_items) = @some_array;
#DOESNT WORK SO ALWAYS DECLARE IT FIRST.

##</code><code>##

while (read directory) {
   add to temp array;
}

examine array to set up loop vars for next loop

while (loopvars tell us were still in the loop) {
   generate return array
}

##</code><code>##

my @returnvalue;
while(read directory) {
  skip some bad entries ('.' , '..', and non-dirs)
  add value to @returnvalue
}
return @returnvalue;