my @pipe_handles = \( $from_parent_one,
                      $to_child_one,
                      $from_child_one,
                      $to_parent_one,
                      $from_parent_two,
                      $to_child_two,
                      $from_child_two,
                      $to_parent_two );
...
   foreach my $handle ( @pipe_handles ) {

      close( $$handle ) if defined openhandle( $$handle );
         
   }