out variable in query

How can you put a variable into a query?

I have a DB with several tables for difernt users.

the table name is a combination of username and description.

ie.

fredcustomer
pamcustomer
joecustomer

Here is the query:
SELECT firstname lastname FROM fredcustomer ORDER.......

I have the variable from a previous query and I need to put it in the prefix to customer.

.....FROM <?$username?>customer ORDER.....
or
.....FROM '${"username".customer}' ORDER.....

But it wont work...
?????????????
?????????????

<?
$query = "SELECT firstname lastname FROM $variablefromfirstquery ORDER.............
?>

not sure but you may have to single quote the '$variablefromfirstquery'

I belive that would work if not for the suffex of customer

It needs to be

variablecustomer

all one word...

this is the last thing I was trying
'%" . $variable . "%'

but I dont know how to append (customer) to the variable...

:-(

oh i see,

well when you get your variable, say fred

$var = "fred"

just rewrite it to be

$var = $var . "customer"

then put $var in your query

$query = "SELECT firstname lastname FROM $var ORDER.............

Thanks for your help!!!