!echo . >fred;;

print join ' | ', stat( 'fred' );;
2 | 0 | 33206 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1316099335 | 1316099335 | 1316099335 |  |

unlink( 'fred' );;

open O, '>fred';;
print O 'junk';;
close O;;

print join ' | ', stat( 'fred' );;
2 | 0 | 33206 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1316099365 | 1316099381 | 1316099365 |  |