PS This is a module in the real program.

Then it would have been better if you'd posted the code as module. Like this, it doesn't make much sense. No package declaration - __PACKAGE__ is main here.

I don't see the purpose of blessing and OO-ado in your new() function (or method, whatever), since it doesn't return an object, but the result of reap_zombies(); and it even doesn't return because it loops. It returns only if the accept() call fails, which looks to me rather like a condition to carp, croak or confess when it is encountered.

_($_=" "x(1<<5)."?\n".q·/)Oo.  G°\        /
                              /\_¯/(q    /
----------------------------  \__(m.====·.(_("always off the crowd"))."·
");sub _{s./.($e="'Itrs `mnsgdq Gdbj O`qkdq")=~y/"-y/#-z/;$e.e && print}