#!/bin/bash

waitforjob() {
  WHICH=$1
  MAX=$2
  echo "max = $MAX";
  N=0
  while true; do
    kill -0 $WHICH 2>&1 >/dev/null || break
    sleep 1
    echo -n "."
    N=$((N+1))
    if test $N -gt $MAX ; then
        echo "This is taking too long."
        kill $WHICH
        break
    fi
  done
}

sleep 30 & waitforjob %% 5