If you don't need to do anything else while you are waiting your X seconds, you simply use sleep before shifting the array:

my $seconds=10;
sleep $seconds;
my $element=shift @array;
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If, however, you want to spend your waiting time usefully, set an alarm:

$SIG{ALRM}= sub {shift @array};
my $seconds=10;
alarm $seconds;
do_useful_stuff();
# after 10 seconds, @array gets shifted, no matter what you are doing 
+at that point.
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Note that this code is untested, but should give you an idea on how to proceed.

Update: First I define $seconds, than I don't use it. Fixed that :).

CU
Robartes-