I am trying to learn how to fork() standalone processes from a parent Perl script. When I execute my learning script it does fork the sub functions, but one at a time. What I am trying to learn is how do I launch all the sub functions immediately so that all the forks are running together with the parent. Here is my learning code. I have tried reading the man on fork(), but I must be dense, stupid or both, because I can't seem to figure it out. 
#!/usr/bin/perl

$SIG{CHLD} = "IGNORE";
$f1="file1.txt";
$f2="file2.txt";
$f3="file3.txt";
$naptime=5;


sub count{
        print "Starting Fork 1\n";
        open(FILE1, ">$f1");
        while($x < 10){
        $x=$x+1;
        print FILE1 "$x\n";
        sleep($naptime);
        }
        close(FILE1);
        fork && exit;
}

sub count2{
        print "Starting Fork 2\n";
        open(FILE2, ">$f2");
        while($y < 10){
        $y=$y+1;
        print FILE2 "$y\n";
        sleep($naptime);
        }
        close(FILE2);
        fork && exit;
}

count();
count2();

print "Starting Parent Process\n";
open(FILE3, ">$f3");
while($z < 10){
$z=$z+1;
print FILE3 "$z\n";
sleep($naptime);
}
close(FILE3);
print "Parent Script Finished!\n";

########################################################

[download]
Somebody please put me out of my misery!
Thanks,
Danny

update (broquaint): added <code> tags

In reply to fork() && exit; by onegative

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