my @array = ([1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6], [7, 8, 9]);

# non-destructive
my $index = 0;
sub nextitem {
   return if $index > $#array;
   return @{$array[$index++]};
}

# more elegant, but destroys @array
sub nextitem {
   return unless @array;
   return @{shift(@array)};
}