my @out;
my $first_child;

$|=1;

my $pid= open($first_child, '-|');
if ($pid) {
    # parent
    @out= <$first_child>;
}
else {
    my(@child, @childpid);
    for (my $i=0; $i<$children; ++$i) {
        $childpid[$i]= open($child[$i], '|-');
        if ($childpid[$i]) {
            # do nothing yet
        }
        else {
            $call = <Something I make here>;  # sorry, can't show that
            open (OUT, "| $call");
            close (OUT);
            exit;
        }
    }
    foreach (@child) {
        close $_;
    }
    exit;
}